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Tuesday, 8 July 2014 00:11 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The MSC GVA started to offer the new West Africa service to the Jaya Container Terminal (JCT) of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) on 3 July. The weekly service with upgraded 2,000 to 3,000 TEU vessels, with 12.30 m maximum draft and within 275 m LOA, started with the maiden call of MV Mare Atlanticum.
The vessel is the first vessel under new the West Africa Express Service operated by MSC from the Far East to West African ports. This service is expected to result in improved volume from West African ports to Colombo and South East India.
A total of 10 ships have been deployed with 4,000 TEU capacities each and would be a weekly caller to Colombo JCT.
On an optimistic note, SLPA Managing Director Capt. Nihal Keppetipola stated that the new weekly service with the main line MSC would have high potential to boost the trans-shipment industry via SLPA’s JCT. “The new service allows us to link Sri Lanka directly with West African ports and enable cargo borne at West African ports to be trans-shipped to India, Bangladesh and Pakistan via Sri Lanka. The service would also anticipate significant volumes in imports from West African ports and South/East Indian ports to Colombo.
“The enhanced capacity at the Port of Colombo has resulted in many new developments in cargo handling and the efficiency expressed at the Jaya Container Terminal (JCT) of Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) has further strengthened the credibility by port users on services provided by us,” Keppetipola added.
Expressing views on the new service MSC Lanka Ltd. Managing Director Kamal Wijeyrathne stated that in line with the objectives to improve the services, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A., was pleased to announce the start of its dedicated service between Asia and West Africa. “All MSC existing volumes moved today in trans-shipment via the Mediterranean will now be shipped directly to West Africa with an improved transit time to Tinca-Lagos in 28 days from Chiwan and 23 days from Singapore. The service will also be calling Port Louis on its way to West Africa,” he added. The port rotation of the service will be Nansha, Chiwan, Singapore, Port Louis, Tincan Island in Lagos, San Pedro, Abidjan, Coega, Colombo, Singapore, Nansha.
“This service at JCT illustrates the close relationship MSC Geneva and JCT possess due to the high standard of service levels we enjoy at JCT,” Wijeyrathne added. He also thanked the Chairman and the Management of SLPA for all timely steps taken towards boosting the Port of Colombo with modern infrastructure and superstructure facilities for efficient and speedy operational procedures. Apart from the new West Africa service, MSC is operating three mainline services and two feeder services at JCT.
To commemorate the maiden call of the vessel under the new service, a plaque exchange was also held on board the vessel between SLPA Chairman Dr. Priyath B. Wickrama and MSC Lanka Ltd. Managing Director Kamal Wijeyrathne. Master of the vessel Capt. Carlos Amadeo also took part in the plaque exchange. SLPA Managing Director Capt. Nihal Keppetipola, Director (Operations) Upali Soyza, Chief Manager (Operations) Nimal Jayatissa, Chief Manager (Marketing and Business Development) Upul Jayatissa, Representatives of MSC Lanka Ltd. including General Manager Kingsley Abeywickrama, General Manager (Operations & Logistics) Shamal Perera, Manager (Operations) Erwin Balachandra and Assistant Manager (Operations) Thilanga Silva also attended the function.
