Second Symposium(Presentation of Colombo Port)

Presenter:M.I.M.Rafeek,Vice Chairman
Sli Lanka Ports Authority,SLILANKA

TITLE:PORT OF COLOMBO IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM

INTRODUCTION
Colombo Port is in the Network of Affiliated Ports and the concept of stimulating trade among member ports is encouraging and would improve understanding and co-operation among the members. It is a prerequisite to possess adequate infrastructure and port facilities to meet the demand arising from such trade stimulation

This presentation briefly describes the present situation of the Port of Colombo after looking at the historical development, the future demands and the development plans, for the future.

Brief History

Colombo was originally an open roadstead prior to the year 1875, which was capable ofaccommodating and providing safe anchorage during some four months of the year from December to April to only small vessels - see Fig. 1. The flfst development scheme of Colombo harbour commenced in 1875 which consisted of the construction of three breakwaters to encircle 260 hectares of water and completed in 1912 creating a large artificial harbour. Since then the Port of Colombo was transformed into a safe harbour in all seasons.

Being a port selving overwhelmingly the British imperial interests as a colony, the British involvement in all aspects of development of the port was a marked feature. This position continued until political independence of the country in 1948.

The next phase of major development scheme in the port was undertaken by the independent Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) from 1950 to 1956, some 75 year afier the foundation stone was laid to construct the Colombo harbour breakwaters. This scheme introduced primarily 3200 metres of deep water quays having depths from 9 - 10 metres to accommodate 15 ships together with 55.800 M2 of adjacent transit sheds- see Fig.2, which transformed the port to a position to ensure efficient handling of cargo.

Present Situation

The container revolution that began to change the pattern of world shipping in the seventies was felt in Colombo and the frrst container berth was opened in 1980. The next phase of development concentrated on container terminals and the fully equipped Jaya Container Terminal with four Main Line berths ( panamax and post panamax) and two feeder berths was completed from 1983 to 1995. Thereafier, an off-shore oil terminal with a submarine pipeline to shore, a 2 km long new port access road to iink the port with ICDs and other industrial complexes were also completed to-date. We acknowledge the financial assistance from the Japanese Govermnent for much of the development activities since 1983 to date - see Fig.3. The facilities available in the Jaya Container Terminal are given in the aunexed Table 1.

Development Plans

The yearly throughput of container handling in the port for the past 2 decades is given in Fig. 4. Actual growih in the years 1994/95, 95/96, 96/97 have been 20%, 29% and 24.4%, but the increase from 1997 to 1998 was 01%. Nevertheless, the forecast for 2005 stands around 3 million TEUs and 2015 around 5.2 million TEUs. There are also other forecasts considering different scenarios.

Colombo's emergence to the foremost position as a transhipment centre in South Asia was a result of the heavy investments made on the required infrastructure and superstructure primarily with the assistance from Japan. It is an experience in Colombo that whenever new facilities are commissioned, very soon they get saturated indicating the potential in the region.

Keeping these facts in mind and the necessity to lead the way in transhipment business while recognizing the rapid progress of Colombo's competitors in the provision of container handling facilities, Sri Lanka Ports Authority has made short term place (1999 to 2004) as follows.


Construction of Unity Container Terminal for three feeder vessels to be completed by end 2001.

Provision of 03 quayside gantry cranes and 06 RTGS for above terminal.

Another new feeder berth to support Jaya Container Terminal to be located in the South of JCT for completion in 2001.

Development of Queen Elizabeth quay by South Asia Gateway Terminals Ltd. who took over the quay in September 1999 on BOT basis for constructing a new container terminal with 03 fully equipped berths with a total capacity of 1.000.000 TEUs, expected to be completed in 2004.

Feasibility study for a new South harbour adjoining the existing port to accommodate about 10 container berths with 17 m depth of water. This study is undertaken by the Asian Development Bank at the request of Sri Lanka GoverDment. Study will be completed by end 2000.

Procurement ofa new trailing suction hopper dredger having a capacity of 1200 cbm to continue maintenance dredging activity.

Dredging of the North Channel of the port to -13m from the present -11m to permit bigger ships to sail out through this channel thereby keeping the main channel available for incoming vessels, to minimize navigational delays.
There are also long term development proposals in conceptual stage which are not discussed here.