Sri Lanka: Jaye Container Terminal Achieves Another Milestone

Making a yet another significant landmark in the container handling saga of Sri Lanka, the State-owned Jaye Container Terminal (JCT) received an 11,660 TEU capacity Container Carrier, “MV MSC LUCIANA”, operated by the Geneva-based Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC).

“MV MSC LUCIANA” which made a history as the largest ever container vessel thus far called over at the port of Colombo.

In celebration of this historic event to JCT, SLPA and to Sri Lanka at large, a plaque exchange ceremony was held on board the vessel “MV MSC LUCIANA” on her maiden voyage at JCT/SLPA, on January 23, 2013.

Plaques were exchanged between SLPA upper echelon comprising Chairman, Dr. Priyath B. Wickrama, Managing Director, Capt. Nihal Keppetipola, and the Master of the Vessel Capt. Kojicic Veselin in the presence of MSC top brass including Managing Director, Rohan de. Silva, General Manager (Operations and Logistics), Shamal Perera and other senior SLPA and MSC officials.

MSC, in a very bold move switched over to the state-run Jaya Container Terminal (JCT) operated by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) in December, 2009 expecting to carry out more than 1,500 moves per vessel. And MSC has been able to achieve this average throughout the years following.

MSC brings import cargoes from the Eastern Seaboard of US to Colombo and delivers local exports and transshipment cargo from the Indian sub continent to the Far East.

MSC is the world’s second-largest container shipping line, providing an unparalleled service network via dedicated offices throughout the world and remains a truly independent and private company able to respond quickly to market changes and implement long term plans.

With a streamlined management structure via Geneva, MSC has become a leading customer-focused, cost effective global transport solution provider for many a shipper worldwide.

Commenting at the ceremony, SLPA Chairman, Dr. Priyath B. Wickrama said “The MSC LUCIANA’s call at Jaye Container Terminal brings us great significance for it is the largest ever container vessel to visit Colombo. This heralds how the container shipping will be like in the coming future with economies of scale becoming the major concern in ship building. More often than not, the pursuit of economies of scale in liner shipping has been cited as the major reason behind carrier’s motivation to form strategic alliances, engage in mergers and acquisitions and to increase vessel capacity by building larger vessels. When the Panama’s new locks are inaugurated in 2014, channels will allow transit of bigger vessels, removing another impediment against mega ship building.”

“I am glad to say that Colombo will be ready to handle any mega vessel on the order book. With the construction of Colombo South Harbour, the first stage of which is to be completed in 2013, we will have the capacity to entertain largest triple E class vessels and Sri Lanka will be the only port in South Asia to handle large vessels.,” he further said.

Managing Director of SLPA, Capt. Nihal Keppetipola expressing his views at the ceremony said “Today is a historic day for SLPA. The MSC, one of our oldest and loyal container shipping business partners has made the SLPA achieve another accolade. Today we have demonstrated to the shipping community that we have the ability to handle an 11,000 TEU class vessel, the largest ever to have called thus far at Colombo. MSC has always been with us in crests and in troughs of our business and I am confident that they will continue to be with us in the future.”

He added , “We need to be the change that we wish to see in the world. Let me attribute our ambitious development projects and our determination to change the organizational culture to our vision to be the Logistics excellence in the Silk Route”. Capt. Keppetipola praised the current Port Chairman as a leader par excellence by saying “Real leaders are ordinary people with extraordinary determinations.”

Capt. Keppetipola highly appreciated the role of Rohan de Silva, the Managing Director of MSC Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, as a man who lives upto his dreams quoting “Never let your memories be greater than your dreams”.

“Under our wing, we are confident that MSC will thrive and grow from strength to strength in the future. Your success indeed is the SLPA’s success too. That means you our customer are our most valuable asset and I take this opportunity to wish MSC and their local agent Messrs. MSC Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd. All the Best,” he further said.

The vessel operates under Cheetah service with port rotation of Durban, Port Louis, Colombo, Singapore, Far East, Singapore, Durban and Europe.

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Source: slpa.lk, January 30, 2013