Colombo Port limps towards normalcy

The Colombo port is slowly returning to normalcy, though becoming fully operational will take longer, shipping sources said. 

Largely linked to growing COVID infections and isolation requirements, South Asia’s hub port is facing a manpower shortage, yard congestion and inter-terminal trucking delays, requiring over a dozen ships to wait longer for berthing and forcing a few to bypass.

State-owned JCT has managed to increase its worker base after it appealed to ex-employees to return and took other contingency measures. Some estimate JCT is now 60-70% operational. 

Privately-owned SAGT, which faced labour issues last month that it subsequently resolved, has been fully operational. The most modern terminal CICT is the latest casualty of manpower shortage due to COVID-positive cases, testing and isolation. Only six cranes out of 10 active were operational yesterday whilst plans are afoot to increase the number to 9 cranes over the next few days.

Multiple incidents – as well as SLPA workers not turning up despite declared essential services and bottlenecks in inter-terminal trucking – have led to congestion in all container yards in the Port. Importers have complained of delays in clearing cargo. Impact on export boxes are not severe as yet, sources said. 

Around 18 ships are waiting outside the port area for berthing, they added. In fear of missing connections elsewhere, a few ships have bypassed Colombo as well.