Maritime Industry and Sea Ports in Sri Lanka

The oceanic industry is the spine of Sri Lanka’s universal exchange and contributes monstrously towards Sri Lanka’s outside trade by being an imperative connection to the subcontinent and giving a extend of administrations to universal vessels. Sri Lanka is deliberately found where the active East-West shipping course passes six to ten marine miles south of the island. More than 70,000 ships handle this course yearly, carrying two-thirds of the world’s oil and half of all holder shipments. This inalienable quality gives a phenomenal opportunity for Sri Lanka to be a sea center in the locale, which will contribute gigantically towards resetting the economy.

Sri Lanka’s key area has situated Sri Lanka as an appealing transshipment area. In order for us to develop our transshipment volumes, it is vital that we create capabilities to include esteem to transiting cargo. The accessibility of present day warehousing and esteem expansion centers interior the harbor, will offer assistance to create Sri Lanka’s position as an appealing  Multi Country Consolidation destination.

Sea Ports in Sri Lanka

1. Port of Colombo

Colombo Port is a rapidly growing maritime hub of the South Asia Region. Cargo originating from and destined to Europe, East and South Asia, the Persian Gulf, and East Africa is conveniently and efficiently connected through the Colombo Port. The Colombo Port is primarily a container port. In 2015, it handled about 5.1 million TEU of containerized cargo. Colombo Port's ranking, for container handling, dropped 12 places from being ranked the 28th best port in 2022, to being the 40th best in 2023.

• Jaya Container Terminals

The Jaya Container Terminal, which is located at the Main Channel Western Entrance of 230m x 15.0 m and North Channel entrances 190m x 13.0m that covers 130ha of land area and 70ha of lake water area.

- 4 Container Main Berths. - 1,292m of Quay Wall. - 12m - 15m Dredged Depth. - 14 Nos. Quayside Container Cranes (Panamax & Super Post Panamax). - 50 Nos. Rubber tired Container Transfer Cranes. - 4 Nos. Rail mounted Gantry Cranes. - 100 Terminal Tractors & Trailers. - 02 Nos. Reach Stackers. - 45.5 Hectares of Container Terminal Area. - 45,000 TEU Dry Container Stacking Capacity. - 1,260 TEU Reefer Container Stacking Capacity. - NAVIS N4 Terminal Operating System with Advanced Technology

• Colombo International Container Terminal

CICT is strategically located in the Centre of the East/West shipping route. That are perfectly positioned to act as a gateway to global trade giving CICT customers the most efficient connections. CICT is the first Greenfield project of China Merchant Port Holdings. CMPH is currently one of the largest Port Operators in the world with a vast network across the globe, giving CICT limitless access to a strong global footprint CICT, we are committed to carrying out CICT operation in a responsible .manner which protects the environment. This is a commitment shared very passionately by the entire team at CICT. One of the key project completed recently was the conversion of all RTG’s to electric. CICT is the first and only Deepwater terminal in South Asia capable of handling the largest vessels afloat. QGC 2-72M and 12-70M outreach, enables of handling larger vessels more than 20,000+ TEUs.

• South Asia Gateway Terminals

South Asia Gateway terminals (SAGT) commenced operations at Queen Elizabeth Quay in 1999 as the first public private partnership container terminal operator in Sri Lanka and is one of four container terminals in the Port of Colombo. At SAGT, developing customer centric solutions to the international container shipping community is an integral part of our DNA. The company is a Board of Investment (BOI) flagship entity with nearly 60% of Sri Lankan shareholding, backed by John Keells Holdings, APM Terminals, Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) and Peony investments (subsidiary of Evergreen Marine Corporation).

SAGT is located at the historic Queen Elizabeth Quay and it is regarded as an iconic South Asian container terminal. Below are the distinctive characteristics of our terminal.

- 16m access channel - 15m alongside depth - 940m berth length - Three container berths5,544 ground slots inclusive of 540 reefer points

SAGT’s infrastructure is modern and well-maintained. It is outfitted with advanced container handling equipment and world-class technology. Below are a few of the state-of-the-art equipment we use to achieve maximum terminal efficiency.

- 10 Quay Cranes - 2 Post Panamax Quay Cranes

- 8 Super Post Panamax Quay Cranes

- 31 Rubber Tyred Gantry Cranes - 71% of the Rubber Tyred Gantry fleet retrofitted with hybrid technology80 Prime Movers - 30 Trucks and Trailers dedicated for Inter Terminal Transfer (ITT) operations - 78 Terminal Trailers and 1 Bunded Trailer - 2 Reach Stackers - 2 Safety Cages for lashing operations

• East Container Terminal

East Container Terminal Stage – It is located at Colombo Port in Sri Lanka. The quay wall length of East Container Terminal Stage – I is 450m, and the water depth at the quay is C.D.-18m. The maximum sized vessel to be accommodated is 18,000TEU. The total area of East Container Terminal Stage – I is approx.. 260,000m2 and the scale of the container stacking yard is 3 quay cranes with 20 across our beams. The terminal is equipped with facilities required for operating a container terminal such as operation building, gate house, workshop building, substation, etc.

• West Container Terminal 

In Sri Lanka, the amount of cargo handled in seaports has been rapidly increasing in recent years. To meet such increase in the cargo demand, Sri Lanka Port Authority (hereafter SLPA) is aiming to upgrade their existing cargo handling facilities by constructing the West Container Terminal (the ‘Project’) at the western part of the existing Colombo Port

The proposed West Container Terminal 1 (WCT-1) site is located at the eastern side of western breakwater, inside the Colombo Port. The area for WCT-1 terminal will be reclaimed by sand from the sea. The total requirement of sand volume is estimated to be 15 million m3 which will be sourced from SLPA sand borrow area at Kerawalapitiya, located 9 km away from Kepungoda and 7.2 km from Basiyawatta towards offshore and 20 km away from Colombo Port and about 8.5 km from Negombo Lagoon mouth. The dredge material (silt part) from the proposed WCT-1 area will be disposed of in the existing offshore dredge material disposal area of SLPA, which is located south-eastern side of the proposed WCT-1 and approximately 4 km away from the proposed terminal. The location of the WCT-1, sand borrow area, dredge material disposal area . The outer edge of the reclamation area will be trimmed to slope and then protected by graded core and armour rocks. The estimated requirement of rock/boulder is 2.5 million ton which will be sourced from two operational quarries located at Thebuwana and Mirigama area. The location of quarries and transport route .

• Unity Container Terminal

Colombo port’s unity terminal covers 1.5 hectares and comprises 2 main berths and a multipurpose berth measuring 590 m with a depth of 10.5 m. It has a stacking capacity of 8000 TEUs.

2.Port of Hambantota 

Harnessing the resources of the Government of Sri Lanka, as well as the global standing of China Merchants Port Holdings (CMPort) in a Public Private Partnership, Hambantota Port Group (HIPG) is well-positioned to play a pivotal role in the global business arena. Located ten nautical miles from global shipping route linking the Far-East with the West, Hambantota International Port is Sri Lanka’s most diversified deep-water, multi-purpose port. It offers a comprehensive range of services for the shipping industry, with a focus on new technologies and environmentally sustainable practices, in keeping with the latest advances in the maritime sector.

Hambantota International Port offers the most diversified range of services in the Port & Maritime industry in Sri Lanka. It operates across a number of business sectors, namely, RO-RO, Container Cargo, Conventional cargo, Dry Bulk Cargo, Breakbulk Cargo, Project Cargo, Liquid Bulk Cargo (LPG, LNG), Petro Chemicals, Marine Bunker Fuel and Cruise Terminals

Hambantota port is also known as the Magampura Mahinda Rajapaksha port and is situated in the southern part of Sri Lanka. It is close to the Asian and European maritime trade routes, the Suez Canal and Malacca Strait. More than 39,000 ships and 5000 oil tankers pass through these routes which saves freight costs and reduces sailing time by three days. It is also the country’s most diverse Deepwater facility, constructed in 2008 with Chinese financial aid and given to China on a 99-year lease.

Hambantota’s harbor is protected by two breakwaters covering 312 m and 989 m. The access channel is 210 m wide and 17 m deep for accommodating ships up to 100,000 DWT. The port has facilities for handling exports of flour, cement, essential items, and automobiles and also offers ship maintenance services.

3.Port of Galle

Galle Harbour is a natural harbour, located in Galle, south-western coast of Sri Lanka. Currently Galle port serves as one of the most active regional ports in the country and it is also the only Sri Lankan port that provides facilities for pleasure yachts. International yacht societies have recognized Galle harbor as one of the world's best attractions for yachting.

Operational 24/7, the port handles different kinds of cargo such as rice, flour, cement, clinker, gypsum and fertilizers on its main wharf. It is visited by more than 120 vessels every year and is capable of accommodating ships with a maximum LOA of 130 m and a draught of 7 m.

4.Trincomalee Port

Trincomalee harbour is the second best natural harbour in the world and the available water and land area is about 10 times as much as the Port of Colombo. Trincomalee was tentatively identified to cater for bulk and break bulk cargo and port related industrial activities including heavy industries, tourism and agriculture etc.  At present SLPA is in the process to re-develop Trincomalee as a metropolis growth Centre. 

It is the only well-protected port in the South Asian subcontinent, hence its strategic geographical location, and relatively low congestion compared to other Sri Lankan ports, makes it a perfect facility for ship repair and maintenance. Trincomalee is also the closest Sri Lankan port for ships arriving from Eastern India and North Asia. The port has a long history dating back to the age of exploration and was held by the Portuguese, Dutch, French and British colonial powers. During the second world war, it was chosen as a base by the British Royal Navy.

Trincomalee port handles exports of mineral sands and wheat bran and receives shipments of cement, petroleum goods and clinker. Approximately 160 ships pass through this facility annually. It has 2 multipurpose berths, a cement jetty and a petroleum jetty. Limited port equipment such as a mobile crane with a 7-ton lifting capacity and a forklift truck is utilized for loading and unloading operations.

5.Oluvil Port

This port will form the southeastern link in the developing chain of coastal harbours in the country and will provide more convenient and cost effective access to and from the southeastern region for goods and cargo originating on the west coast. Under the “Nagenahira Navodaya” Programmed which was launched to expedite the development activities in the region, higher priority was given for the Oluvil Development Project which will no doubt be an economic infrastructure and the catalyst for the growth of the Eastern Region of Sri Lanka.

It is being developed in stages and became operational in 2013 after the completion of the first stage. Presently it covers 148 acres of land area while the harbor basin spans 16 hectares and stretches 1.2 km along the coastline. It is divided into two main areas for handling general cargo ships and fishing vessels.

6.Port of Kankesanthurai (KKS)

Kankesanthurai (KKS) Port serves as both a navy and a commercial port in the Northern Province. It is under full control of the Sri Lanka Navy and operates as a high-security area. However, there are plans to introduce passenger ship services to India. During the civil war period before 2009, WFP food supply ships were unable to dock at the terminal due to insufficient underwater clearance caused by sunken warships. However, the harbor area has now been cleared, allowing ships to access the docking terminal. The port has the capacity to accommodate ships weighting from 10,000 to 15,000 MT.

Kankesanthurai (KKS) Port serves as both a navy and a commercial port in the Northern Province. It is under full control of the Sri Lanka Navy and operates as a high-security area. However, there are plans to introduce passenger ship services to India. During the civil war period before 2009, WFP food supply ships were unable to dock at the terminal due to insufficient underwater clearance caused by sunken warships. However, the harbor area has now been cleared, allowing ships to access the docking terminal. The port has the capacity to accommodate ships weighting from 10,000 to 15,000 MT.

In the future, Sri Lanka has plans to transform into a multidimensional hub by providing integrated services and facilities to enhance efficiency and capture more business opportunities. Key priorities involve developing physical, telecommunication, and information technology infrastructure between the air and seaport facilities.