Hambantota port receives its largest cruise liner

Monday, 8 February 2016 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The Hambantota Port yesterday received its biggest cruise ship, the MS Rotterdam. Measuring 238 m in length, the cruise ship carried 1,175 passengers in addition to a crew of 600. It sailed to Hambantota from Cochin. The call by MS Rotterdam follows Europa 2 which, when it berthed at Hambantota in January, was the largest.

The Sri Lanka Ports Authority said the MS Rotterdam is renowned as one of the biggest luxurious cruise liner in the world and has the capability of carrying approximately 1,500 passengers.

The SLPA said that so far the Hambantota port has received 13 passenger ships. Minister of Ports and Shipping Arjuna Ranatunga asserted that these developments could signify a trend where the Hambantota port will receive luxurious passenger ships. He further stated that the significant move could deliver many business opportunities to people in the area.

“We can focus on several sectors when we carry out the development process of the Hambantota port. This area has a great cultural and historical value. Kirinda, Kataragama, Sella- Kataragama have great cultural and historical value. As well as Bundala, Palatupana, Yala and Udawalawa can be mentioned as environmentally significant areas. The tourists visit these places to see the wild animals. So it has great potential to increase the number of vessel arrivals to the Hambantota port aiming our tourist sector. But the port will not receive notable income from passenger vessels. But it creates indirect job opportunities for the people in the area. So I think increasing the number of tourist vessels received at the Hambantota port will generate added value for the economy,” the SLPA said.