Access Engineering completes project at Colombo Harbour

The leading infrastructure development solutions provider in Sri Lanka, Access Engineering PLC, recently handed over completed projects at the Unity Container Terminal (UCT), New North Pier of the Colombo Harbour. Opened in 2004, the Unity Container Terminal (UCT) is located at the northern end of the harbour and consists of two berths for feeder vessels with depths alongside nine and 11 metres.

The 340 m long quay is served by three panamax gantry cranes of 41t SWL. Eight RTGs serve two stacking areas with 1,020 ground slots.

Following the rapid recovery in transshipment volumes and securing exclusive agreements with some of the world’s biggest shipping lines, the Sri Lanka Ports Authority planned to increase container-handling capacity at its terminals to meet these increasing demands by renovating the UCT as well. Once this expansion is operational along with the Colombo Port expansion project, the SLPA would have unmatched capacity at its terminals compared to other container ports in the sub-continent.  

“We are completely satisfied with the completed project and completion time. It was a real challenging task as rehabilitation of a failed structure is much more difficult compared to new construction work. New methodologies were adopted for the massive underwater construction work and the difficult site conditions as well,” Sri Lanka Ports Authority Contract and Design Chief Engineer Chandrakanthi Lokuhewage said.

She also added that, “The dedication of competent and experienced staff of Access Engineering was very much appreciated and we managed to complete the project successfully with much team effort with the client, engineer, contractor.” Access Engineering was employed by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority for the implementation of the project which was funded by a Japanese non-project grant. Access Engineering UCT Project Manager Madawa Gangodagama said: “The rehabilitation project commenced in December 2011 and was completed by 31 March 2013.

The project was initiated with the main objective of creating a fully functional terminal as well as rehabilitate the existing yard by providing urgent renovation and restoration works to severe failures that were incurred in the west and north revetments of the terminal.”

Access Engineering’s scope of work included dredging and the construction of a rubble mounted embankment along the west and North revetments to protect the quay settlement, rectification of the settlement with anchor rods and tie rods, construction of nine to 11 meters high underwater mass concrete curtain wall along the inside face of revetment in order to prevent any future quay settlement and the restoration of the yard area.  

Access Engineering was also entrusted to provide essential amenities including restoration of electricity cables to the yard light towers and rehabilitation of south gantry crane rail foundation to the terminal. The company handed over the completed projects at the UCT on time, despite facing many challenges in the nature of construction due to a surfeit of value engineering solutions being added to the features, processes and systems.