Container operations commence at Hambantota International Port

MV ‘MSC Ingrid’ made her maiden call at HIP on 9th April, a second carrier, ‘MSC Sky 11’ expected to call at the port on 16th April.

Commenting on the port’s historic milestone, Johnson Liu ,Chief Representative of China Merchants Group in Sri Lanka and CEO of Hambantota International Port Group (HIPG) said “We are happy to announce the beginning of Hambantota International Port’s inaugural Container Transshipment service… We plan to make optimal use of HIP’s strategic location, capacity and expertise, to deliver the full potential the port is capable of, doing our part to enhance Sri Lanka’s regional hub status.”

The CEO thanked the  Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation, Nimal Siripala de Silva for the support and cooperation extended to HIP in granting the required approval and giving necessary direction to his officials to facilitate the shipping connectivity between HIP and the Port of Colombo (POC

COO of HIPG Tissa Wickremasinghe says container handling is the last cog in the port ‘machinery’ and it falling into place will complete HIP’s big picture.  “The introduction of Container services through HIP will be a major boost to Investors in the Port Industrial Zone, who will now benefit from directly importing their raw material requirements for production and the export of their finished products directly through HIP – thus making HIP a gateway and transshipment port.”

The Hambantota International Port has placed itself in an ideal position to provide sought after solutions needed by the industry. The port is currently developing on five silos, to ensure enhanced service value and necessary synergies, while placing emphasis on stringent rules for health and safety.