SLPA’s largest infrastructure project to date

The Colombo Port Expansion Project (CPEP), a major infrastructure expansion by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) for the Port of Colombo, was launched this week.

The largest project ever undertaken in Sri Lanka, the CPEP entails the building of four container terminals of four berths each over a period of several years, which will ultimately lead to a threefold increase in port capacity. Chief Guest at the launch was President Mahinda Rajapaksa, at the invitation of the Ports & Shipping Minister Mangala Samaraweera. The project, which will result in the creation of a government-built and owned harbour facility, will include public-private partnerships in the provision of terminal services.

The SLPA will, in addition to being the overall landlord, have an equity stake in each terminal being developed, and hopes to maximise on the market-building, training and knowledge-transfer opportunities available through such joint ventures. When the project is completed, the capacity of the Port of Colombo will be approximately 12 million 20-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) compared to its existing annual maximum capacity of around four million TEUs, a number that will soon be reached, as the Port of Colombo achieves its three millionth TEU milestone within this month.

Each new terminal would be of 1,200 metres length, and have between 3 and 4 berths, depending on the operator’s choice of configuration. The first terminal will become operational in 2010 and have a nominal capacity of 2.4 million TEUs, with the others being brought on-line as the market demands it. The new port basin will have a dredged depth of 18 metres, with an access channel depth of 20 metres. It is planned to incorporate the latest generation of yard planning and container handling equipment and techniques, with the aim of maintaining berth and vessel productivity at class-leading levels of performance.

An SLPA statement said that for the past 150 years, the management of the Port of Colombo has made continuous efforts to reduce lead time, cut costs and otherwise meet the needs of shipping lines. The Port works around the clock, 24 x 7, and meets the highest of global standards for security. It was the first port in Asia to be compliant with the ISPS code simultaneously with the Mega Ports and CSI initiatives of the USA, and is still only one of 5 worldwide with all 3 systems installed.