K Line car carrier ‘Grand Race’ calls at MRMRP on maiden visit

Wednesday, 19 March 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A K Line car carrier loaded with domestic use vehicles from Japan called at Magam Ruhunupura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port (MRMRP) in Hambantota on 15 March. The vessel M/V ‘Grand Race’ discharged 383 units from Japan for domestic use while 205 units were loaded as transhipment for Gulf ports.

The agents for the vessel ABC Shipping Ltd. arranged a plaque ceremony on board the ‘Grand Race’ between Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) Chief Manager (Operations) W. Nimal Jayatissa and Master of the vessel Capt. Willy A. Doruelo to commemorate the maiden call. Jayatissa stated that MRMRP was equipped to handle the largest car carriers which would call in the future without any problem, adding that K Line’s contribution towards MRMRP had increased compared to last year, especially with the transhipment volumes from India to Gulf Ports. Jayatissa thanked Chairman John Shiran Dissanayake of ABC Shipping, the agents for K Line, for their contribution towards the port. He confirmed that MRMRP, under instructions of SLPA Chairman Dr. Priyath B. Wickrama, would further develop to increase the transhipment volumes from India while allocating on arrival berths for all port users. Dissanayake stated that whilst Singapore and Laemchabang are congested for RO-RO traffic, MRMRP would be a better option in time to come for all the car carriers to store their cargo at the port. “The port is located in the centre of the transhipment hub that can relay transhipment cargo to the Gulf, African and South African ports via MRMRP,” he stated.

Doruelo stated that since cargo and vessels were routed via MRMRP, the port would be their best option to fulfil bunker requirements as well. “It is also a pleasure to see MRMRP at present is rapidly gathering attraction as the most popular transhipment RO-RO port in the region,” he said. ABC Shipping General Manager of Operations and Logistics Tressel G. Silva confirmed that their principals were happy with the developments made by MRMRP over the last few years and thanked Dr. Wickrama, SLPA Managing Director Capt. Nihal Keppetipola, SLPA Harbour Master Capt. Ravi Jayawickrama, SLPA Director (Operations) Upali De Zoysa, Jayatissa and officials of MRMRP for their active presence in making MRMRP one of the busiest hub ports in the region. He stated that Dissanayake and the management of ABC Shipping were keen on promoting transhipment vehicles via MRMRP while having ‘zero damage’ to the cargo moving via MRMRP since K Line/ABC Shipping too have been allotted on arrival berths at MRMRP. “K Line constantly endeavours to innovatively reinforce its car carrier fleet with in-depth consideration to environmental preservation in particular, as well as to service the handling of complete cars damage-free at all times during loading and discharging operations as well as during ocean navigation. Therefore, K Line’s fleet of over 70 car carriers safely ship automobiles, trucks, buses, excavators, bulldozers and other heavy vehicles plus equipment. The company’s damage prevention techniques are rated as the world’s most advanced programs,” he added. SLPA AGM (Operations) at MRMRP Suranga Peiris and ABC Shipping AGM (Car Carriers) Reggie Dias were also present at the occasion.