Tuesday, 6 August 2013 00:00
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The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) has commenced construction of the East Container Terminal (ECT) as a continuation to the Colombo Port Expansion Project.
The terminal is being constructed using its own funds and will be ready for operation in early 2014, SLPA Chairman Dr. Priyath Bandu Wickrama said.
The ECT is scheduled to commence container handling operations in Q1 next year with latest modern equipment capable of operating Triple-E class container vessels. The East Container Terminal and the existing container terminals belong to SLPA in the Port of Colombo and will ensure adequate flexibility to attract shipping lines in addition to minimising ship waiting time, which will improve the overall efficiency of Colombo’s Port.
Hyundai Engineering and Construction Company Ltd. is the contractor for this terminal as well. Company CEO Su Hyeon Jung yesterday acknowledged that Phase I of the project is currently under way. “This project is being executed very smoothly and will be finalised very successful under the guidance of the SLPA. Hyundai ESC will continue to provide our best service and do our best to the highest quality of the grand project,” Jung said.
It has been noted that the port’s current capacity and the confirmed development of SCT will be insufficient to meet the projected demands in the short to medium term growth expected as revealed in the ‘Vision 2020 Report’ published by the Ports Authority last week. “This projected growth in demand is sufficient to justify the construction of the ECT parallel with the SCT,” the report said.
The ECT will be developed to full capacity in stages parallel to the expected volume growth. The terminal is expected to handle 2.4 million TEUs per annum.
