W-Terminal II EOI next year, says SLPA MD
The Colombo Port is likely to get busier as authorities are planning to call for an Expression of Interest (EOI) for West Terminal II next year.
Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) Managing Director Ganaka Hemachandra told The Sunday Times Business that currently the detailed designing of the terminal is being carried out.
And prior to its completion plans are underway to start the procurement process, he said adding that the government policy is to have a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. Feasibility study of the West terminal has been completed.
He pointed out that they have opened bids for purchase of straddle carriers, and in the meantime SLPA will hire prime movers to carry out moving of containers at the yard.
Commenting on the need to cancel the previous bid to purchase straddle carriers, Mr. Hemachandra said that it was due to lack of transparency and alignment with emission control regulations.
Half of the yard capacity is completed with 10 of the 20 lanes for automated gantry crane rails, he said. In addition 900 m of the quay wall is also completed of the total extent of 1306 m quay wall of the Phase II.
“Our plan is to start operations using this 900 m and 10 lanes that will hopefully be completed by October this year,” the Managing Director said.
Mr. Hemachandra also noted that while the congestion at the Colombo Port has been cleared within the port, the capacity has reached its maximum levels and there is a potential demand of increased traffic from the region that has to be catered to. “This is a critical time to cater to this demand,” he said adding that most of the terminals are reaching their capacities.
Confident of achieving targets, the MD pointed out that Colombo Port has already reached its revenue target of Rs.34 billion within the first six months’ itself.
Authorities are now also looking at further expansions into the North Port development work.
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