Brand new K line car carrier Helios Highway calls at Hambantota Port

K Line’s brand new car carrier MV Helios Highway with a load of vehicles from Japan made its maiden call at the Port of Hambantota on 19 August. 

In order to mark the occasion a plaque ceremony had been organised on board the vessel between the General Manager of the Port of Hambantota Norman Weeraratne and the Master of the vessel Capt. Rosen Georgiev. ABC Shipping Ltd. acts the agents for the vessel. 

Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) Chief Manager (Marketing and Business Development) Upul Jayathissa expressing views at the occasion stated that SLPA was pleased to welcome K Line’s new ship to the Port of Hambantota and said he expected more K Line vessels to call at MRMRP in the near future.

Master of the vessel Capt. Rosen Georgiev with the plaque from SLPA in the presence of Port of Hambantota General Manager Norman Weeraratne, SLPA Chief Operations Manager W. Nimal Jayatissa, SLPA Chief Manager (Marketing & Business Developments) Upul Jayathissa, ABC Shipping Chairman John Shiran Dissanayake, ABC Shipping Managing Director Wasantha Talagala, ABC Shipping General Manager Operations & Logistics Tressel G. Silva, ABC Shipping Deputy General Manager Reggie Dias and ABC Shipping Director Roshan Dissanayake

“I am pleased that K Line has a very good agent in Sri Lanka to handle both car carrier and container carriers with reputed, helpful and experienced staff. I would also like to thank ABC Shipping Chairman John Shiran Dissanayake for continuing to bring K Line’s new ships to the ports of Sri Lanka,” he said.

Dissanayake said apart from the pure car carriers, K Line had already placed an order of five more 14,000 TEU vessels at Imabari Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., which were due to be delivered in 2018.

“Our ULCV (Ultra Large Container Vessel) fleet, with the latest energy-saving technologies, will become 10 units in total. These 10 vessels will be the flagships of K Line Containership business with which K Line shall continue to deliver a service of high quality to our valued customers,” he added.

ABC Shipping Managing Director Wasantha Talagala commenting at the occasion mentioned that K Line had been endeavouring to innovatively reinforce its car carrier fleet with in-depth consideration to environmental preservation in particular, as well as to perform service in the handling of complete cars that is entirely damage-free at all times during loading and discharging operations as well as during ocean navigation.

Adding a special note at the plaque exchange on board the vessel, ABC Shipping General Manager Operations & Logistics Tressel G. Silva stated that that his principals in Tokyo (K Line) had placed identical eight-vessel ship-building contracts with delivery from 2015 to 2016.

“It has also been decided to order two additional new next generation 7,500 RT car carrier vessels with delivery in 2017 from Shin Kurushima Dockyard Co. Ltd. adding these two new additional ships, line-up of our new next generation car carrier vessels with better stability and increased fuel efficiency will expand to a total of 10,” he said.

ABC Shipping Deputy General Manager Reggie Dias stated that Dissanayake and the management of ABC Shipping were keen on promoting transhipment vehicles via the Port of Hambantota.

K Line’s fleet of over 70 car carriers safely ship automobiles, trucks, buses, excavators, bulldozers and other heavy vehicles plus equipment. The company’s damage prevention techniques are rated as the world’s most advanced programs.

SLPA Chief Operations Manager W. Nimal Jayatissa, Port of Hambantota Assistant General Manager Suranga Peiris and ABC Shipping Director Roshan Dissanayake were also present at the occasion.

K Line brand new car carrier MV Helios Highway at the Port of Hambantota