Saudi firm to do yacht repairs, shipbuilding in Galle

The signing of the agreement for the establishment of a yacht/leisure craft repair/shipbuilding facility at the Port of Galle took place on 6 June 2013 at the Ministry of Port and Highways on the initiative of the Minister of Port and Highways (Projects) Rohitha Abeygunawardena. The agreement was signed between the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) and Sea Gulf Shipyard Ltd.

Chairman of Sri Lanka Ports Authority Dr. Priyath B. Wickrama signed the agreement on behalf of the SLPA and Hadi Hamad Al-Hammam, President of Hadi Hamad Al-Hammam Group and Nazeer Ahamed, Director of the Sea Gulf Shipyard, signed on behalf of Sea Gulf Shipyard.

The facility will be constructed with an estimated cost of US$ 44 million within a construction period of 24 months. The Hadi Hamam Group of Saudi Arabia will act as the investor of the project whilst Sea Gulf Shipyard (Sri Lanka) is the project proponent.

The ultimate objectives of the project includes design and construction of a syncrolift with a 1,500 ton capacity to accommodate yachts, pleasure crafts etc. and positioning a floating dock with a 4,500 ton capacity on a temporary basis subject to ‘Barge Fomentera’ being removed from the Colsenburg Quay.  A warehouse will be leased for working space and the workshop. The land area in this regard is to be leased for 30 years in line with the Land Alienation Policy of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA). SLPA in the venture will get the land lease payments, charges and royalty payments as an income to the port. A repair facility of yachts has been essential to promote the yacht marina in the Port of Galle.  The establishment of a shipyard in the Port of Galle will provide a number of direct and indirect employment opportunities to welders, fitters, carpenters, painters and workers of various other trade areas.

The repair facility in Galle will also attract a large number of vessels from the Maldives, creating many business opportunities for Sri Lanka. Attracting a direct foreign investment from Middle Eastern countries will also encourage other investors to consider further investment in Sri Lanka.

SLPA Managing Director Capt. Nihal Keppetipola, SLPA Director – Logistics D.W. Atapattu, SLPA Director – Technical A.D.T. Gunasekara, SLPA Director – Security Major General Sanath Gamini Karunarathne, SLPA Chief Engineer (Planning and Development)/Director – CPEP Susantha Abeysiriwardana, SLPA Chief Law Officer P. Ragitha Siriwansa, Hadi Hamad Al-Hammam Group Vice President (International Operation) T.K. Raj Gopal, Hadi Hamad Al-Hammam Group Business Development Manager D. Purushothaman, Hadi International Marine Services DMCC Executive Manager Khalifa H.N. Al Nabhan, Sea Gulf Shipyard’s Dr. Sarath M.B. Obeysekara, Sea Gulf Shipyard’s members of the technical team Dr. Nimal Jayathilake, Nimal Gunawardhane and Don Amarasiri, and several officers of the Ministry of Ports and Highways and SLPA were also present at the signing of agreement.