News
East Container Terminal’s full operations hampered by lack of vital equipment
View(s):By Namini Wijedasa
The full operation of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority’s (SLPA) much-delayed East Container Terminal (ECT) is expected to be further hindered, as the procurement of essential port equipment called straddle carriers is not yet completed, industry sources told the Sunday Times.
Bids were first called for straddle carriers—which are specialised, off-road vehicles used in container terminals to lift, transport and stack heavy loads like shipping containers—as far back as 2023.
It was awarded to a company but was cancelled after the National People’s Power (NPP) government assumed power. (The cancellation was possible as the selected company had not confirmed the award of the tender).
SLPA sources said the tender was cancelled because it was floated for the procurement of diesel-powered straddle carriers, and this would have hit Sri Lanka’s efforts to cut down carbon emissions by 2030.
Thereafter, a new tender was floated this year for the supply, delivery and commissioning of 15 hybrid (combining more than one energy source) straddle carriers. Bids were due to close on September 22 but were extended till October 8, 2025.
“The tender just closed this week,” an industry source said. “The evaluation and award will take at least six months at the fastest time possible. The delivery of straddle carriers will be at least 12 months after the award. We won’t have straddle carries for at least another one and a half years.”
The ECT, set to be the SLPA’s first fully automated deepwater terminal, was initially set to be fully functional by 2016. However, only its first phase was commissioned for container operations in October 2020. Civil works for the second phase are also still continuing and could take 18 more months, the sources said. It will also take time for ECT staff to get accustomed to running the equipment.
The use of straddle carriers can be observed now in the Adani-run Colombo West International Terminal (CWIT), which adjoins ECT. The process is fully automated. The construction of CWIT started in early 2022, while the first phase was commissioned in April this year.
“Only when we receive the straddle carriers can we be fully operational,” SLPA Chairman Admiral (Retd) Sirimevan Ranasinghe said. “The target is to award the tender within this year…get the valuation done and get the letters of credit out.” He said he is not involved in the tender process.
The best way to say that you found the home of your dreams is by finding it on Hitad.lk. We have listings for apartments for sale or rent in Sri Lanka, no matter what locale you're looking for! Whether you live in Colombo, Galle, Kandy, Matara, Jaffna and more - we've got them all!