Vehicle handling tops 100,000 units at Hambantota Port

Monday, 15 September 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Magam Ruhunupura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port (MRMRP) in Hambantota received 161 RO-RO vessels from January to September this year, against 74 such vessels for the same period last year pointing to a positive change of 117.56%. The total number of motor vessels handled for the same period this year at MRMR Port is 116,861 units against 26,932 units for the same period last year, pointing to a positive change of 333.91%.

During the period this year MRMR Port has handled 19,628 domestic and 97,233 transhipment units in RO-RO operations and significantly MRMR Port has hit the total mark of 100,000 units of vehicle handing by September 2014. The MRMR Port received 329 Ro-Ro vessels from June 2012 to date, handling 51,909 demotic and 140,225 transhipment during the period. The total vehicles handled from June 2012 to date is 192,134 units. With the commencement of Ro-Ro operations at Magam Ruhunupura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port, it has proven itself as a dedicated and reliable facility for international maritime transportation in the region. This move enabled the reduction of congestion at the Colombo Port, introducing a quicker clearance system with Sri Lanka Customs where the document processing could be done in either Hambantota or Colombo without any delay, and promoted transhipment business with a dedicated automobile handling terminal facility in Magam Ruhunupura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port. The services rendered by MRMRP are continuing with the highest quality and expansions taking place with the oncoming massive development activities around this port include the tank farm, green port city and free zones providing tax havens and bunkering facilities. These activities will realise a long-term dream of vessels sailing in the Indian Ocean and those involved in the field of supply chain management as well. In the future the port will predominantly operate as a transhipment port.

As an effective measure to ease the long berthing delays experienced by Roll on Roll off vessels at the Port of Colombo, SLPA has been routing such vessels to the Magam Ruhunupura Mahinda Rajapaksa from 6 June 2012. MRMR Port is fast becoming a major stop over for vessels to stem bunkers with its brand new tank farm and terminal complex in full operation. The main customers are the very large bulk carriers and crude oil tankers which ply the busy sea lanes in the region. Since its inauguration in June 70 vessels have called for bunkers only with a total volume of 26,000mt. The replenishment of stocks is ongoing with major suppliers getting actively involved in the supply chain, which is very encouraging to ensure timely supplies and quality of the products. Meanwhile the second phase of the port has been completed up to 60% and is expected to be completed in the last quarter of 2015. All developmental activities at MRMRP are being successfully carried out with the supervision of Project Minister of Highways, Ports and Shipping Rohitha Abeygunawardena and instructions by SLPA Chairman Dr. Priyath B. Wickrama. In line with the ‘Mahinda Chinthana’ of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Sri Lanka Ports Authority has been rightly directed at present to maximise all its strengths and capacities to efficiently work towards Sri Lanka’s socioeconomic development.