H'tota Port to attract larger vessels

The Hambantota Port will attract larger vessels than those that call at the Colombo Port within the next two months, said Chief Engineer, Southern Ports Development, Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), Agil Hewageegana.

He said large vessels are unable to enter the port due to lack of draft and added that dredging on the remaining 35 metre stretch of the one kilometre entrance canal will be completed within two months.

Foreign vessels are yet to call at the new port which is one of the largest in the world.The uniqueness of the port is its strategic location to attract vessels that are on the East-West shipping route.

Shipping line experts said that the full utilisation of the port would take time as it needs a proper sound supply chain and effective marketing. The first phase of the port was completed on November 18, 2010 with the ceremonial berthing of the naval ship, the Jetliner.

The Hambantota Port built inland is the second largest port in the country. The new port will compete with some of the leading and busiest ports in the region and in the world.

The ports of Singapore, Shanghai, Kobe, Dover and Rotterdam are some of the world's busiest ports. Hewageegana said that around 8.5 to 9 metres of the last stretch has been dredged and added that the rest will be completed as scheduled.

"Ships which are bigger than those that call at the Galle Port can enter the Hambantota harbour.The harbour mouth has to be dredged minus 16 metres for larger ships to enter the port", Hewageegana said.

The Hambantota Port, a landmark development project in Sri Lanka changed the country's landscape and elevated the status of the shipping and port sector of the country.

The new port will provide facilities for port related industries and services such as bunkering, maintenance, logistics, buying of provisions and medical supplies. The port is expected to relieve pressure on the Colombo Port.

Hewageegana said that a 14 floor administrative complex has been built as a part of the project and added that four berths have been constructed for cargo and bunkering under the first phase of the port.

The second phase of the port has commenced and under this stage another five berths will be added to the port.The second stage of the port is expected to be completed within three years.

Hambantota Port estimated to cost around US$ 360 million is funded by the China Exim Bank and is being constructed by the China Harbour and Engineering Company.

Promotion of tourism, agriculture and industrial growth, rise in land value and creation of a vibrant export sector are some of the main benefits of the port.

LF