High profile delegation from Colombo Port visits VOC Port Authority, Tuticorin

The delegation from POC and VOC Port Authority: Sri Lanka Ports Authority Chairman Keith D. Bernard, Actg. Additional Managing Director – Operations Lal Weerasinghe, Director – Marketing and Media K.G. Sarath Dayananda, SAGT CEO Romesh David, CCO Ted Hiran Muttiah, Asst. Manager – Commercial Kalani Dasanayake, Colombo International Container Terminals Senior General Manager Catriona Jayasundera, Deputy General Manager Commercial and Marketing A.M.P. Chandima R.B. Senevirathne, Asst. Manager Commercial and Marketing – Oshini Perera, and West International Container Terminal’s Chief Executive Officer CEO Harikrisnan Sundarm, VOC Port Trust Deputy Chairman Bimal Kumar Jha, VOC Port Authority Honorary Secretary J.P. Villavarayar, and Traffic Manager R. Prabakar

• Discussions aim at increasing volumes at POC

A high profile delegation from the Port of Colombo recently embarked on a three-day business promotion visit to the V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority (VOC Port Authority) in Tuticorin, India.

The delegation headed by Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) Chairman Keith D. Bernard, included representatives from SLPA, South Asia Gateway Terminals, and the Colombo International Container Terminals. The visit took place from 10 to 13 July.

The 1st session organised with the Dakshin Bharat Gateway Terminal Ltd. was held at VOC Port Authority. VOC Port Trust Deputy Chairman Bimal Kumar Jha chaired the discussions. The discussions were also attended by VOC Port Authority Honorary Secretary J.P. Villavarayar and Traffic Manager R. Prabakar.

At the visit, the delegation participated in the trade interactive session aimed at establishing a robust networking system between the Port of Colombo and Tuticorin. The session garnered attendance from over 100 participants, including trade fraternity from Tuticorin, as well as Heads of Shipping lines, feeder services, and other relevant stakeholders. It took place at Sathya Resorts in Tuticorin.

At the session, Sri Lanka Ports Authority Chairman Keith D. Bernard emphasised the developments taking place in the Port of Colombo at present, facilities provided at terminals and its future forecasts.

“Both the Colombo and Tuticorin ports, situated in the Indian Ocean region, hold strategic importance as key maritime trade hubs. Establishing a commercial shipping trade relationship between these ports presents numerous opportunities for collaboration and growth. From January to May of this year, Colombo has welcomed a total of 98 Container vessels through the Tuticorin Service, resulting in a volume of 92,265 TEUs. Due to increased efficiency and productivity, it is expected that this figure will surpass the total volume of 271,179 TEUs handled in the previous year, which was achieved through 161 vessel calls under the same service,” he said. 

The duration of sea travel between Tuticorin and Colombo typically ranges from 12 to 18 hours. According to shipping line information, it takes only 0.5 days for a container vessel to arrive from Tuticorin to Colombo. 

Further discussions between the POC delegation and the VOC Port Authority in Tuticorin covered key points including measures to implement competitive rates, facilitation for priority berthing with a designated window at the terminal, upgrading equipment and enhancing facilities, connections with lesser transit times, recognition of NVOCCs to be provided with direct billing facilities, measures to be taken for container damages inside the port, having a common float covering all 4 terminals in terms of bank guarantees for NVOCCs, allowing long-stay containers to be re-exported and also possible measures to release unauthorised import containers. 

The delegation from the POC also partnered the 14th South East Ceo Conclave & Awards 2023 held on 12 July at the ITC Grand Chola, Chennai. The awards night had been organised and coordinated by EXIM India Managing Editor Jayadeep Vijayan.

Sri Lanka Ports Authority Actg. Additional Managing Director – Operations Lal Weerasinghe, Director – Marketing and Media K.G. Sarath Dayananda, South Asia Gateway Terminals (SAGT) CEO Romesh David, CCO Ted Hiran Muttiah, Asst. Manager – Commercial Kalani Dasanayake, Colombo International Container Terminals Senior General Manager Catriona Jayasundera, Deputy General Manager Commercial and Marketing A.M.P. Chandima R.B. Senevirathne, Asst. Manager Commercial and Marketing Oshini Perera and West Container International Terminal CEO Harikrisnan Sundarm also attended the visit.