Colombo Port gets largest ever container vessel

Monday, 1 December 2014 02:18 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Writing yet another landmark chapter in the container-handling saga of Sri Lanka, the Port of Colombo received the largest ever container vessel to have called on Colombo, the MV MSC New York at the Colombo International Container Terminal (CICT), its latest terminal recently. This 400m vessel is the first 16,650 TEU category vessel to have arrive at the Port of Colombo and earns an historic achievement for the Port of Colombo that places it among the few ports in the world that can handle such large mega carriers. The vessel was on its maiden voyage to the port of Colombo and was arriving from Port Kelang in Malaysia. It was heading direct to Europe from

Colombo. To mark this historic occasion, a plaque exchange ceremony was held aboard MSC New York and Capt. Domenico Pica, master of the vessel, exchanged plaques with officials of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, CICT and Messrs. MSC Lanka Ltd. respectively. Expressing his views on the occasion, SLPA Managing Director Capt. Nihal Keppetipola stated that it was an honour to have such mega vessels dock at Colombo Port especially at a time when the port sector has embarked on several mega development projects worth billions of dollars with the objective of making Sri Lanka the maritime hub of South Asia. “At present, mega lines such as the MSC have credibly developed their faith in the Port of Colombo and it’s growing at a remarkable pace. With the completion of the ongoing development projects and the Colombo Port City Project, Colombo will be a hub for all maritime partners and stakeholders in the region,” he said. "At present, mega lines such as the MSC has credibly developed their faith on the Port of Colombo and it’s growing at a remarkable pace. With the completion of the ongoing development projects and the completion of the Colombo Port City Project, Colombo will be the hub for all maritime partners and stakeholders in the region - SLPA Managing Director Capt. Nihal Keppetipola MSC’s relationship and commitment to the Sri Lanka Ports Authority for a high level of service provided to all MSC vessels calling in at the port of Colombo - MSC Lanka Managing Director Kamal Wijesinghe Under our wing, we are confident that MSC will thrive and grow from strength to strength in the future - CICT Chief Executive Officer Nelson Liu" He also said that these types of vessels will be regular callers at the Port of Colombo in the near future. MSC Lanka Managing Director Kamal Wijesinghe stated that they were thankful to the Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A. in Geneva for their confidence in the port of Colombo by scheduling such a mega vessel to make its maiden call at Colombo. “This proves MSC’s relationship and commitment to the Sri Lanka Ports Authority for a high level of service provided to all MSC vessels calling in at the Port of Colombo. We are also thankful to CICT and the staff,” he added. CICT Chief Executive Officer Nelson Liu said: “Under our wing, we are confident that MSC will thrive and grow from strength to strength in the future. Your success is our success too. That means you - our customer - are our most valuable asset and I take this opportunity to wish MSC and their local agent Messrs. MSC Lanka Ltd. all the very best.”