Colombo ranked as most efficient port in South Asia
COLOMBO – Sri Lanka’s main port, the Port of Colombo, has been ranked as the most efficient port in South Asia and 3rd in the India Ocean rim in a ranking compiled by the World Bank and Standard and Poor’s Market Intelligence.
The second edition of the Global Container Port Performance Index (CPPI) 2021, ranking developed by the Transport Global Practice of the World Bank in collaboration with the Maritime, Trade and Supply Chain division of S&P Global Market Intelligence also ranks the Port of Colombo 22nd among 370 ports globally.
A World Bank/S&P statement quoted Dr Prasantha Jayamanna, Chairman, Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), as saying the statistical rankings of Colombo among the top 7% of the ports in the world and the best in South Asia, was a testament to the Port’s position as the primary transhipment hub in South Asia.
SLPA are also the operators of the Jaya Container Terminal (JCT) and the East Container Terminal (ECT), two of the four container terminals in the Port of Colombo,
Dr Jayamanna has said that in addition to the valuable contribution made by the JCT, the ranking acknowledges the significant role played by Colombo’s partner terminals, Colombo International Container Terminal (CICT) and South Asia Gateway Terminals (SAGT), who together have made the port what it is today.
He has also said that given SLPA’s role as Regulator and facilitator of port development of Sri Lanka, it was important to record that the Port of Colombo will continue to develop ahead of projected demand, noting that construction has already begun on two new deep water terminals, the East Container Terminal (ECT) by the SLPA and the West Container Terminal (WCT), by a consortium led by Adani Ports and including John Keells Holdings, towards this end.
These developments, he has said, will progressively add over seven million TEU of throughput capacity over the next 2-5 years.
Jack Huang, Chief Executive Officer of CICT, a member of the China Merchant Port Holdings Group, has said that as the first and currently only deep-water terminal in South Asia capable of handling the largest container ships in service, CICT was happy to have played a major role in the Port of Colombo achieving the ranking.
He had also noted that CICT had won multiple accolades for exceptional performance over the past five years, while assuring the Terminal would continue to offer its customers, who are the world’s leading container shipping lines, a best in class service for their transhipment and gateway requirements and are committed to uplifting this on a continuous basis.
Romesh David, Chief Executive Officer of SAGT, a consortium led by John Keells Holdings and the AP Moller Maersk Group highlighting SAGT’s catalyzing role in launching and contributing to maintain Colombo’s global standing as the preeminent transhipment hub in the region, has said SAGT’s confidence in the potential of the Port of Colombo is undiminished and is borne out by their continuing investment in new and upgraded machinery on the wharf and in the yard.
The statement noted that the Port of Colombo had recorded an all-time high throughput of 7.25 million TEUs in 2021 and continues its growth story, recording a year on year growth of 2% for the first 5 months of 2022 ending in May.
“The present terminals in the Port offer almost 4,500 metres of quay with depths ranging from 12 – 18 metres, are served by 47 Ship-To-Shore Cranes and over 130Ha of yard space,” it said.
The statement also pointed out that the SLPA, in addition to its role as regulator and landlord also holds 15% equity stake in the two private terminals, CICT and SAGT.
-ENCL