HIP sees RO-RO transshipment volumes expand 26% in 2023

The Hambantota International Port (HIP) has become the fastest growing RO-RO transshipment port in the region with the handling of 700,000 transshipment vehicles, and marking a significant 26 percent increase from the 2022 figures.  
The milestone figure was achieved with Glovis vessel MV. HAE SHIN V.003B handling 3626 units for transshipment to Ulsan port, South Korea. 
“The port is geared and ready to handle volumes that are getting larger each year, not only because it is expanding capacity and location, but also because of our quality service, and timely berthing facilities with no waiting time for customers with tight schedules.  

“The reliability of our services, coupled with connectivity to important destinations, and competitive pricing formulas, makes HIP an extremely attractive proposition,” Lance Zuo, General Manager Commercial & Marketing said.
Tissa Wickramasinghe, COO of HIPG said the 700,000 units handled by the port this year, places HIP at the top end of the league with other RORO transshipment locations in the competing region. 
“This is a commendable achievement for a port that has been in operation for just 6 years, and we achieved this amidst various challenges from lockdowns to a serious economic downturn in the country,” he said.

Wickramasinghe added that when the Hambantota International Port Group (HIPG) took over, the Port Management team made a strategic decision to go for low hanging fruit and establish HIP as a regional transshipment hub for RORO cargo.  
“The entire strategy was developed in line with that.  The Port entered into agreements with RORO lines giving them the assurance of expert handling of their transshipment cargo with uncompromised quality and reliability.” 

New RORO customers were also attracted, to develop transshipment volumes, especially the Japanese lines, who were more focused only on handling domestic import cargo.  
The commercial team visited customers from across the world, meeting traders and dealers in Japan and other countries to attract volumes to the port. A dedicated team was developed to follow global trends in RORO transshipment scenarios and developments. The efforts enabled the management to make the required investments in new equipment, new technology and IT systems.  
Further, noting that attracting volumes alone would not sustain the business, HIP took equal measures to ready their operations team, establishing a quality, world class cargo operations system. 

“Having achieved ISO certification in QHSE, our existing and new customers have placed their trust in us because we have proved over and over again that their volumes are safely handled.   Along with our operations team, our safety management team, navigational, admin and engineering teams help to manage facilities and other requirements to ensure the continuous maintenance of global quality standards in our operation,” he said.
HIPG has already made a significant investment in expanding yard space and installing modern equipment. Frequent training sessions are held for operations staff and familiarisation visits to international terminals are facilitated for the relevant teams.