New Indian sub continent service launched via Colombo Port
Thursday, 11 July 2013 02:29
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Middle East-based SIMATECH Shipping, together with EVERGREEN and NYK launched a joint container service namely, Indian Sub Continent to Bangladesh and Pakistan (IBS) Service linking the West of India and Pakistan directly to Bangladesh effective from 27 June, 2013.
For this service, all three lines have deployed four vessels, each having a carrying capacity of 1600 - 1800 TEUs. The unique and inimitable feature of this service is that it will sail in the form of a butterfly having Colombo as the pivotal point and featuring two legs; Colombo-Karachchi-Mundra-Colombo and Colombo-Chittagong-Colombo. And as a result, the service facilitates exports from West India, Pakistan and Bangladesh to be transhipped via Colombo.
The inaugural vessel of the IBS service MV “ELENI I” operated by SIMATECH, called at Jaya Container Terminal (JCT) of Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) recently and handled over 884 moves. The service expects to handle over 1000 moves per call at JCT.
SIMATECH’s other services also heavily contribute to the elevation of Colombo as the hub port of South Asia connecting Far East, South East Asia, Indian Subcontinent and Gulf cargoes. The EAF service launched in 2010 was the first service of SIMATECH into the African continent and this served as a stepping stone for further development of SIMATECH’s presence in Africa. The IBS Service will enhance SIMA-TECH’s overall service profile and provide customers with another selection of quality service.
A ceremony was held on board the vessel MV “ELENI I” in commemoration of the service’s inaugural call at the JCT of SLPA, on 6 July 2013. To mark the significance of this move to the SLPA, plaques were exchanged between the Chairman of SLPA, Dr. Priyath B. Wickrama and the Master of the vessel Capt. Vite Rubustiano Jr. Bugarin in the presence of officials of SLPA and local representatives of EVERGREEN, SIMATECH and NYK lines.
Saliya Senanayake, Chairman / MD of SIMATECH Lanka Shipping (Pvt) Ltd., participating in the ceremony stated: “This is a very momentous occasion for our company and we are extremely happy with the services provided to us by the SLPA. With huge development projects, the growth prospects of Sri Lankan ports are very strong and our business will have very good opportunities in the future making a win-win situation for both of us.” Senanayake expressed his pleasure at Colombo’s growing volumes and growth prospects as the hub port of South Asia. He offered his unbounded thanks to the Chairman, Managing Director and the entire SLPA team for their efficiency cooperation and cohesiveness demonstrated in achieving what SLPA is at present.
