Office Address
123/A, Miranda City Likaoli Prikano, Dope
Phone Number
+0989 7876 9865 9
+(090) 8765 86543 85
Email Address
info@example.com
example.mail@hum.com
123/A, Miranda City Likaoli Prikano, Dope
+0989 7876 9865 9
+(090) 8765 86543 85
info@example.com
example.mail@hum.com
The Colombo Port is experiencing a
notable increase in transshipment volumes since the start of January due to
rerouting of ships following an increase in attacks in the Red Sea by
Yemen-based Houthi rebels. Vessels are now opting for an extended route around
Africa instead of using the Suez Canal.
Ports Minister
NimalSiripala de Silva said he has directed officials to optimise
operations of the Colombo Port to accommodate the surge in traffic of container
cargo in view of the emergency situation in the Red Sea.
By mid-January, the Colombo Port had
seen an 80 per cent increase in volume, handling nearly 200,000 containers.
According to Sri Lanka Port Authority
officials, they are expecting to handle around 7 million containers or TEUs
(twenty-foot equivalent units) in 2024.
In 2023, the Colombo Port handled 6.9
million TEUs, up from 6.86 million TEUs in 2022.
Developments are underway at Colombo Port’s eastern and western container
terminals to boost its TEU capacity from 8 million to 8.5 million, officials said.
Commenting on the Colombo port’s
increased operations, State
Minister of Foreign Affairs TharakaBalasuriya said the
development should be seen in the background of safeguarding freedom of
navigation in international waters, which must be protected at all times.
Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan Navy has committed to
dispatch a vessel to participate in the international operations against Houthi
rebel attacks on merchant shipping in the Red Sea.
