The Colombo Harbour (known as Port of Kolomtota in the early 14th Century Kotte Kingdom) is the largest and busiest port in Sri Lanka. Located in Colombo, it serves as an important terminal in Asia due to its strategic location in the Indian Ocean. During the 1980s, the port underwent rapid modernization with the installation of Cranes, Gantries and other modern-day terminal requirements. Currently with a capacity of 4.1 million TEUs and a dredged depth of over 15 m (49 ft), the Colombo Harbour is one of the busiest ports in the world, and ranks among the top 35 ports. The port is also the naval base for Sri Lanka Navy Western Fleet under the Commander Western Naval Area (COMWEST).
Kotte Kingdom
The port was built in early 14th Century, during the Kotte Kingdom. Among the users of the port, China, India and Persia were among the first people to use the harbour. In 1505, a 443-year long period of foreign occupance prevailed when the Portuguese fleet sailed into the harbour, after which it was upgraded and converted to a sheltered harbour during the latter part of the British Rule.
1980 to Present
The harbour underwent a major transformation to handle containerized cargo in early 1980s. Due to this, and its strategic location amidst trade routes, the port became more attractive to main line shipping than any other port in the region. After the introduction of private sector operators, it consolidated its position as a major regional hub port for transshipment cargo in late 1990s. At present, the port handles 15% of transshipment cargo in South Asia. However, in early 2009, the container throughput of Nhava Sheva Harbour surpassed that of Colombo.
Expansion project
As of 2008, the port is in line with a proposed large-scale expansion project costing a total of over US$1 billion, which is expected dramatically increase the port's capacity and capabilities. The project, which is headed by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority and built by the Hyundai Engineering & Construction Company, is expected to complete within 48 months from the 11th of April 2008.
Once completed, it will increase the annual container handling capacity from 4 million TEUs to approximately 12 million TEUs. It will also be able to accommodate larger container vessels, carrying around 12,000 TEUs alongside berths with the depth of 18 m (59 ft), with provision to be deepen up to 23 m (75 ft), boosting the transformation into a regional mega port.
Port facilities
The Colombo Port currently owns three container terminals, namely the Jaya Container Terminal (JCT), South Asia Container Terminal (SAGT) and Unity Container Terminal (UCT). These terminals operate round the clock for faster turn around time than any other operator in the region.[citation needed] Other port facilities include:
* 04 Feeder Berths
* 07 Container Berths
* 14 Quay Cranes
* 12 Super-Post Panamax Cranes
* 01 Twin_lift Super-Post Panamax Crane[8]
* 04 Wall-mounted Gantries
* 78 Rubber-tyred Gantries[9]
* 285 Terminal tractors and trailers[10]
Additional facilities include the Bandaranaike Quay (BQ) and Prince Vijaya Quay (PVQ) with four rail mounted quay cranes, and 6,245 m2 (67,221 sq ft) of bonded warehouses.
Kotte Kingdom
The port was built in early 14th Century, during the Kotte Kingdom. Among the users of the port, China, India and Persia were among the first people to use the harbour. In 1505, a 443-year long period of foreign occupance prevailed when the Portuguese fleet sailed into the harbour, after which it was upgraded and converted to a sheltered harbour during the latter part of the British Rule.
1980 to Present
The harbour underwent a major transformation to handle containerized cargo in early 1980s. Due to this, and its strategic location amidst trade routes, the port became more attractive to main line shipping than any other port in the region. After the introduction of private sector operators, it consolidated its position as a major regional hub port for transshipment cargo in late 1990s. At present, the port handles 15% of transshipment cargo in South Asia. However, in early 2009, the container throughput of Nhava Sheva Harbour surpassed that of Colombo.
Expansion project
As of 2008, the port is in line with a proposed large-scale expansion project costing a total of over US$1 billion, which is expected dramatically increase the port's capacity and capabilities. The project, which is headed by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority and built by the Hyundai Engineering & Construction Company, is expected to complete within 48 months from the 11th of April 2008.
Once completed, it will increase the annual container handling capacity from 4 million TEUs to approximately 12 million TEUs. It will also be able to accommodate larger container vessels, carrying around 12,000 TEUs alongside berths with the depth of 18 m (59 ft), with provision to be deepen up to 23 m (75 ft), boosting the transformation into a regional mega port.
Port facilities
The Colombo Port currently owns three container terminals, namely the Jaya Container Terminal (JCT), South Asia Container Terminal (SAGT) and Unity Container Terminal (UCT). These terminals operate round the clock for faster turn around time than any other operator in the region.[citation needed] Other port facilities include:
* 04 Feeder Berths
* 07 Container Berths
* 14 Quay Cranes
* 12 Super-Post Panamax Cranes
* 01 Twin_lift Super-Post Panamax Crane[8]
* 04 Wall-mounted Gantries
* 78 Rubber-tyred Gantries[9]
* 285 Terminal tractors and trailers[10]
Additional facilities include the Bandaranaike Quay (BQ) and Prince Vijaya Quay (PVQ) with four rail mounted quay cranes, and 6,245 m2 (67,221 sq ft) of bonded warehouses.
