Pilot familiarisation continues at Mahinda Rajapaksa Port

With harbour pilots commencing familiarising themselves with manoeuvring vessels at the Magam Ruhunupura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port on 28 April 2011 for the first time, more container vessels called at the port during the last two days for familiarisation of vessel manoeuvring.

The mega container vessel Wan Hai 502 owned by Wan Hai Lines (Pte) Ltd. of Kaohsiung, Taiwan, having a length of 260 metres and heavily laden with containers was on its voyage from Port Kelang Malaysia to Colombo, when it first stopped over at Magam Ruhunupura, whilst the vessels Sky Apolo having a length of 210 metres from Madurai in India and OEL Dubai having a length of 150 metres from the Port of Kochin arrived for familiarisation of vessel manoeuvring at Magam Ruhunupura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port respectively on Saturday 30 April and Sunday 1 May.

The process is scheduled to continue with more ships of different capacities and draughts calling at the new port during the coming months.

With the awarding of selected proposals for investors to start industries in Ruhunu Magampura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port, all cargo brought from different counties should arrive at the port as they have declared it as their designated port.  With the awarding of around 11 new industries to commence work at the port during the next few months, it will also guarantee an annual income generation for the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA).

Parallel to these activities, the bunkering facility will also commence operations shortly, with the completion of the tank farm project at the port. The private sector has the privilege of initially operating bunkering facilities at the port.

Following its commissioning on 18 November 2010, the Mahinda Rajapaksa Port in Magam Ruhunupura also received ISPS certification as per the IMO recommendation and the UN Locator Code ‘LKHBA’ has also been allocated.

Despite several misleading reports published in some print media on the port’s inability to accommodate vessels, the above certifications assured the port as an eligible and a safe port for operations.