Massive investor interest for Port

By Shirajiv SIRIMANE in Hambantota

Turning a new chapter in the country's socio-economic development, the first stage of the Ruhunu Magampura Mahinda Rajapaksa International Port was commissioned with the arrival of the vessel 'Jet-Liner' followed by a sailing ship and a cargo ship the MV. Seruwila symbolising the commencement of commercial operations.

An African ship after unloading steel at the harbour

Since then several ships have called over at the Port. The Chief Engineer of the Port Agil Hewageegana said more vessels and operators are making inquiries to anchor at the Ruhunu Magampura Harbour.

He said adverse weather is slowing down the work of the harbour. "We are currently widening the entry channel to the port so that bigger vessels could call over," he said. There is a little stretch at the corner still to be drilled and this is currently under way.

Hewageegana explained that drilling is being done from a floating berg and due to the monsoon they are finding it hard to drill as the berg is moving due to rough waters. "This is why it is taking a longer time," he said.

The feasibility study for the construction of the port was carried out by SNC Lavolis Canadian International Company and the basic designs were prepared by the Denmark Rambol Company in 2005.

Under Stage I, the west breakwater of 988 m, the east breakwater of 312 m, a ship's terminal of 600m, a service terminal of 105 m, an oil terminal of 610 m, with a ships turning circle of 600 m were constructed with a basin draught of 17 m, and a part access canal having a width of 210 m and a draught of 17m.

The deepened land area in Stage I is 43 ha. facilitating 100,000 DWT capacity ships.

The new six-lane road at the port

Deputy Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena inspecting the arrival of the mega container vessel ‘Wan Hai 502’.Dr. Priyath B. Wickrama, Chairman of SLPA and Agil Hewageegana, Chief Engineer of Southern Port Development are also in the picture

The buildings nearing completion

He said investors are ready to start their operations and 13 have already have been shortlisted. "We have allocated 140 hectares for them," he said.

The Chief Engineer said that the welfare building, workshop and stores complex are now nearing completion. The welfare building would house the Customs, Immigration, mini hospital and a canteen.

Currently, local agents channelling ships to Hambantota obtain the services of Immigration and Customs from the Galle Harbour. "When this building is completed in two months, there would be a team permanently housed in the port", he said.

He said the six-lane road for containers have been completed along with another four-lane road.

As the Ruhunu Magampura Port was developed as an environmentally-friendly port from the initial stages, there have not been any environmental issues which many development projects have to undergo.

The garden port concept, which many countries follow, is utilised here to join the complex mechanism process and the environment, creating a conducive climate for employees.

Int'l certification

Following its commissioning, the Port also received ISPS Certification as per the IMO recommendation and the UN Locator Code has also been allocated. "Despite several misleading reports published in certain print media on the port's inability to accommodate vessels, the above certifications have assured that the port is eligible and safe for operations", an official from the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) said.

He said there is no truth in the rumour that a huge rock obstruct ships from entering the harbour.

"This story is being spread to gain political mileage." The first large container vessel called at the port on Friday for the harbour pilots to familiarise themselves with manoeuvring vessels into and out of the port.

This mega container vessel 'Wan Hai 502' owned by Wan Hai Lines (Pte) Ltd. of Kaohsiung, Taiwan, having a length of 260 metres and heavily laden with containers and drawing a draught of 12.0 metres, was on its voyage from Port Kelang, Malaysia to Colombo when it stopped over at the Ruhunu Magampura Port.

In the days ahead, several more vessels of different capacities and draughts belonging to reputed international shipping lines are due at the port to enable harbour pilots to familiarise themselves.

Meanwhile, the project committee appointed for the consideration of the request of the investors who are interested in investing in the port premises issued 63 applications locally and internationally and 27 investors submitted their proposals for investments.

The Project Committee received proposals from three investors for warehousing, two for petro-chemicals and one each for sugar refinery, fertiliser and canning. Meanwhile, other proposals have also been brought out to commence various industries and all investors have been identified as reputed and leading business ventures and entrepreneurs in and outside the country.

Port of Colombo

Since the inception of container operations at the Port of Colombo, it took about 20 years to handle a capacity of two million TEUs.

Hence, in year 2004, the Port of Colombo handled two million TEUs of containers which grew to four million TEUs by 2010. The total is expected to be 10 million TEUs by 2020, when the port will generate 40 percent of the Government income.

The mega container vessel ‘Wan Hai 502’ entering the port for pilot manoeuvring

The new administration building

Last year, the State-run JCT of the SLPA also reached a historic record throughput of two million TEUs in 11 months.

The above fact clearly shows the length of time that is needed by any project or program to emerge as a reliable and strong economic venture.

Accordingly, with time being managed efficiently and correctly, with the correct development strategies,

The Mahinda Rajapaksa Port in Ruhunu Magampura will emerge as a port that not only feeds the national economy, but also as the most important regional port that is closest to international shipping routes.

Meanwhile, the construction of a fuel tank farm at the port commenced in October 2009 by the China Huanqiu Contracting and Engineering Corporation at a cost of US$ 76 million.

Under the project 14 tank farms are being constructed with a full capacity of 80,000 m3. Eight of them will be dedicated for ships oil while three will be for aircraft oil and another three for LP gas.

The administrative building at the site commenced is being built and constructions being carried out by the China Harbour Engineering and Syno Hydro Co-operation joint venture.

The building consists of 15 storey, a total floor area of 100,000 sq. ft. and a height of 200 ft. It also has a rooftop area and is said to be the tallest building in the area.