S t a t e - o w n e d C e y l o n Shipping Corporation (CSC) received its latest ship ‘Ceylon Princess’, which arrived at the Colombo Port yesterday. Ceylon Princess, the second ship belonging to CSC, was a creation of China’s AVIC International. The other ship in CSC’s possession is ‘Ceylon Breeze’, which was delivered in March, this year. The two ships, for which orders were placed during the previous administration, are said to have cost US $ 70 million

The ships were purchased to transport coal to Lakvijaya Power Station in Norochcholai and to the proposed coal-fired power plant in Sampur. Since the construction of a coal-fired power plant in Sampur was scrapped by a court ruling, CSC said it would have to find other avenues to monetize the ships during the monsoon seasons. As a result, CSC has entered into a commercial agreement with Hong Kong-based maritime solutions provider Wallem Commercial Services to utilize the two ships during monsoon seasons for other commercial activities. As per the agreement with Wallem Commercial Services, Ceylon Princess delivered a shipment of steel from South Korea to the Philippine before arriving at the Colombo Port.