Rapid development of ports to make Lanka a shipping hub

by Mohammed NAALIR in Hambantota

The first phase of the Hambantota port will be completed by August this year, Ports and Aviation Minister Chamal Rajapaksa said.

The Ministry of Ports and Aviation expects the first ship to dock in by November. The Ministry has planned to export many local products through the port.

Harbours and airports are the main gateway for economic prosperity and development of a country. The development goals of a country can easily be achieved with the availability of proper transport modes. The Hambantota Harbour and the Mattala airport will play a key role in uplifting the country's economy. Hambantota will be developed as a shipping and aviation hub which will spur the area's economy.

Moneragala, Matara and Ratnapura districts will benefit in a massive way after the opening of the port and the airport, Ports Authority Chairman Dr. Priyath Bandu Wickrama said.

Under the "Mahinda Chinthana National Development Drive" the Government has paid considerable attention towards developing and improving the standards of harbours islandwide.

Kankesanthurai, Hambantota, Oluvil, Colombo and Galle ports are being developed. On completion of Hambantota and Oluvil harbours there will be seven harbours in total in Sri Lanka. The Trincomalee harbour will be developed as a tourism destination while giving priority to other industries and agriculture.

Another port other than Colombo with all needed facilities to cater to the increasing demand for maritime transportation is crucial as the Colombo Port is reaching the maximum capacity. This is where Hambantota comes in. The construction of a second port at a suitable place was a long felt need. This dream has come true under the Mahinda Chinthana.

The first stage of Hambantota Port development project is expected to be completed in August this year with the opening due in November. The cost of the project is UD$ 361 million and 85 per cent of this project will be funded by Chinese Government on a soft loan basis. The estimated total cost for the entire port project is seven billion US dollars. The China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd. (CHEC) is engaged in the construction of the Hambantota port.

An oil tank farm will be constructed with 14 tanks at a cost of US$ 76 million at the Hambantota Port. Eight tanks will be used for fuel bunkering facilities while three will be for aero fuel and three for storing LP gas.

The 14 tanks will have a total capacity of 80,000 cubic meters.

The Hambantota Port is constructed to enable and handle 100,000 DWT vessels, Dr. Wickrama said.

The Hambantota port will be a boon for international vessels. As Hambantota is located close to the main East-West sea route, it will be easy to develop it as a service and fuel providing centre for all ships which usually tend to by-pass Sri Lanka.

The Hambantota Port will be able to accommodate 33 vessels at any given time. Depending on the demand the entrance channel will be widened to cater to two way traffic.

The port will be developed to accommodate even the large vessels, including fishing vessels.

Between 60,000 to 70,000 ships are estimated to sail through this region every year.

Computerised image of proposed Mattala Airport

He said the Ports Authority intends to start two food preservation factories in the Hambantota port to supply food items to the ships. Dr. Wickrama said that by providing essential services to the ships a lucrative income could be earned.

A seven storeyed office complex will be constructed for administrative purposes. He expressed confidence that all essential facilities for the vessels can be provided at the Hambantota port.

Dr. Wickrama said that site preparation and the construction of the coffer-dam, armour unit and harbour basin have been completed and 90 per cent of breakwater, 65 per cent of harbour basin excavation-65, 45 per cent of approach channel dredging, 80 per cent of quay wall construction have been completed while relocating 99 per cent of the inhabitants of the area.

The Government is planning to set up a cement grinding and bagging plant, fertilizer bagging plant and a warehouse in the port while operating a LP gas terminal and conducting Ro-Ro operations.

More than 25,000 direct employment could be generated through the port and airport project while providing more than 50,000 indirect employment opportunities. A large number of industrial parks will come up in the region. Residents of Moneragala, Ratnapura and Matara Districts directly benefit through the Mattala airport and Hambantota harbour.

Colombo Port

Under the "Colombo Port Expansion Project" the South area of the Colombo port is being developed. Under the first phase of the project, the construction of 6.83 km length breakwater, dredging a new harbour basin and navigation channel and the rerouting of crude oil pipe line are in progress.

The construction of terminals and other related services will be completed in the second phase of the project.

The estimated cost for the construction of harbour infrastructure work is US$ 330 million.

The Asian Development Bank and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority jointly fund the infrastructure development work.

The project was started in April 11, 2008 and will be completed in 48 months.

The selection of a port operator for the Southern Container Terminal will be completed by 2012 April at the completion of Harbour Infrastructure Development Work.

The construction work of breakwater by placing core material and an outer protection layer of first 2100 metres has been completed.

The submarine crude oil pipe line runs across the port entrance at a shallow depth and it is required to relay a new pipe deeper to dredge the channel up to 20 metres. The laying of the pipe line commenced in January 2010 and a 9 km length has been completed. This work will be completed in April 2010.

Galle Port

The Galle Port is the only Sri Lankan port that provides facilities for pleasure yachts. The International Yachts Society has recognized Galle Port as one of the world's best attractions.

The facilities at Galle Port were damaged during the tsunami. The development of Galle Port as a tourism destination will act as a catalyst for the economic growth of the Southern region in Sri Lanka. The Galle Port will have a 300 metre long, 12 metre deep Multi Purpose Berth. It will have a 12 metre deep approach channel, 450 diameter turning basin and water area of 320 ha. The inner breakwater will be 490 metres long.

Oluvil Port

The Oluvil harbour project comprises the construction of a commercial harbour and a basin for fishing craft.

The loan agreement was signed between Nordea Bank, Denmark and Ministry of Finance and Planning of Sri Lanka on May 23, 2008.

The acquisition and purchasing of lands for the project has been completed.

Under the commercial harbour project 40 per cent of land excavations, 30 per cent of cargo quay wall, 60 per cent of permanent buildings inside the commercial harbour have been completed while 55 per cent of land excavation, 75 per cent of the permanent building inside the fisheries harbour that comes under the small craft harbour has been completed.

All these port projects, which have been expedited, will give Sri Lanka a distinct advantage in the global shipping industry.

The second international airport a long felt need of this country is materialising under the "Mahinda Chinthana" national development concept.

At the very outset it was decided to set up the airport at Weerawila. Later it was shifted to Mattala due to environmental concerns.

The Tourism sector will be developed in this area after opening the airport while suitable industries are being set up in the vicinity of the airport.

The airport will play a pivotal role in developing the Hambantota region and capturing a market share of the regional traffic growth.

An air-sea transhipment hub operation in conjunction with the Hambantota harbour is to be promoted.

It will be a key component in the development efforts of the Eastern and Southern coasts and will be the gateway for an economic and investment influx to Sri Lanka.

The Hambantota Airport will also supply fuel to airlines. A cargo will also be handled through Hambantota airport.

The estimated cost for the project is US$ 210 million.

Project Engineer of Mattala Airport project G. Withanage said that the Airport will come up in a 2000 acre land.

The length of proposed runway is 3500 metres and the width is 75 metres. It has also been recommended to have 60 metres long taxiway from the runway centre line to the edge of the apron.

Ten parking points will be provided in the initial stage.

Aeronautical-direct

Passenger

*Domestic/regional and international passenger traffic.

*Domestic/regional passenger hub

*Budget airline attachment

*Seaplane/amphibious operations

Cargo

*Domestic/regional and international cargo movement

*Warehousing

Aeronautical-indirect

*Pilot training

*Technician training

*Maintenance hub

*Charter/private jet parking

*Mothballed aircraft/ junkyard (dry climate benefit)

Non Aeronautical

Investment-financial

*Aerotropolis concept

*Duty free shopping hub

*International finance centre

*investment incentives

*Industrial parks

*IT parks

Tourism related

*Hotels

*Restaurants

*Car rentals

*Resort Activities (golf,scuba,deep sea fishing

*Recreational activities

The reputed Chinese construction consortium of China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) is engaged in the construction.