Colombo Dockyard gives message to European market on Sri Lanka’s return to normalcy

Releasing the rapid Response Afloat Repair Service and BWMS Flyer to Norwegian market. From left: Oivind Qvale, Kjell Fr. Jacobsen, Invoicing and Marketing Senior Engineer Amila Rukshan, Marketing and Ship Repairs Head Darshana Chandrasekera and Marketing and Ship Building Head Prince Lye

Sri Lanka’s pioneer shipbuilding and ship repairing facility, Colombo Dockyard PLC, was the sole participant from Sri Lanka in one of the leading International Shipping Exhibitions ‘Nor-Shipping 2019’ from 4-7 June in Oslo, Norway.  

Under the leadership and guidance of Chairman H. Tanaka and Managing Director/CEO D.V. Abeysinghe, Colombo Dockyard has taken proactive initiatives to revive the market by spearheading and participating in the maritime forums to educate the fraternity of the latest positive developments.  

The main objective at this event was to educate the Norwegian and global shipping fraternity of the developments in Colombo, Sri Lanka after the Easter Sunday incident. The drive was to regain the business confidence of the many ship managers, owners and other service providers to look at Sri Lanka seriously for their repair and building requirements. 

Colombo Dockyard has been a regular participant at many marine exhibitions, such as Posidonia Greece, Sea Asia Singapore, SMM Germany, Inmex India and other platforms over the past four decades. 

This is the third instance Colombo Dockyard has participated as an active exhibitor at the Nor Shipping. The shipyard has been flying the Sri Lankan flag and promoting Colombo as a competitive repair and building centre in the South Asian region in Europe and Global platforms. 

Norwegian ship owners and managers represent a large share of the world’s offshore/floating tonnage. This naturally makes them one of the significant market segments for Colombo Dockyard.  

This mega international marine exhibition has been a meeting place for European and global shipping fraternity stakeholders such as ship owners, ship managers, shipyards, machinery and equipment suppliers, classification societies, flag states, shipbrokers to name a few. 

This platform was used to inform the market of the latest shipyard developments offerings, such as the newly-formed Rapid Response Afloat repair Service team (RRARS) that can be mobilised swiftly at any Sri Lankan port to attend to multiple types of afloat repairs. 

The shipyard’s readiness to handle the installation of Ballast Water Management Systems (BWMS) and Scrubbers, which is a requirement as a result of the IMO statutory regulations kicking in on 1 January 2020.    

During this event, some of the other key factors highlighted to the potential clients were: Colombo’s strategic location close to the main marine trading routes, minimal diversion for vessel’s calling to discharge in the Indian coast, quality repair services, safe working environment, Japanese expertise available through our collaboration with Onomichi Dockyard, faster turnaround times and competitive rates. 

The shipbuilding sector highlighted the wide product portfolio on offer for complex vessels such as the Cable Laying vessels and offshore vessels sector, mainly our market-proven Anchor Handling Tugs, Offshore Platform Support Vessels, Crew Boats, Coast Guard Vessels, Harbour Tugs, Work Boats, Passenger Ferries and other specialised Vessels.   

Colombo Dockyard partnered with Colombo Dockyard’s representative in Norway M/s. Ulrik Qvale & Partners AS (UQP), Norway. Kjell Fr. Jacobsen and Oivind Qvale representing the UQP were instrumental in coordinating the exhibition logistics in making the event successful.   

Colombo Dockyard team was lead by Marketingand Ship Repairs Head Darshana Chandrasekera, Marketing and Ship Building Head Prince Lye and Senior Engineer – Invoicing and Marketing Amila Rukshan.