Skip to Content

Category Archives: News & Events

McOcean Logistics wins Merit and Bronze Awards

McOcean Logistics received recognition at the National Business Excellence Awards (NBEA) held on the 22nd of March 2022 receiving a merit award in the Transport and Logistics category. This award is a testament to the overall financial performance of the company as well as its bold forays into new business areas despite the impact of the global coronavirus pandemic.

These pioneering initiatives coupled with our corporate governance principles, our agile response to the Covid-19 pandemic to ensure business continuity, our social responsibility, capacity building and sustainability initiatives contributed to McOcean winning this award overcoming the intense competition in this category.

McOcean Logistics also emerged a winner in the Ocean Carrier (NVOCC) category at the inaugural National Logistics Awards (NLA) which was held on the 23rd of March 2022, organized by the Sri Lanka Freight Forwarders Association. McOcean Logistics won the Bronze Award in the category competing with leading NVOCC companies in the industry. The phenomenal growth in the NVOCC business of McOcean Logistics which represents 5 well known NVOCC lines whose network covers the globe was key in the winning of this award.

These awards and accolades showcase the team at McOcean who continue to challenge status quo developing new products and expanding the scope of existing products in uncertain market conditions to deliver total logistics solutions to customers.

0 0 Continue Reading →

McOcean Logistics Carries Out Complete Disinfection At Port of Colombo

McOcean Logistics carried out a complete disinfection at the Colombo Port. Utilizing the best-in-class equipment and chemicals and backed by a team of dedicated professionals this operation was carried out under strict Covid-19 guidelines adhering to local and international standards at the Port of Colombo.

Since launching its unique service 2020 in the midst of the ongoing global pandemic engulfing the world, McOcean Logistics has seen steady progress in the number of customers requiring its Services. McOcean has currently carried out operations both in the ports of Colombo and Galle at anchorage and off port limits (OPL) with potential opportunities to offer these services in Trincomalee and Hambanthota ports as well. This has been made possible with our network, personnel, and floating assets capable of bringing this service to any type of vessel including Tankers, Container Carriers, Bulk Carriers and Yachts etc with minimum, diversion from its course.

McOcean is committed to providing these services around the clock to service the requirements of shipping lines, shipowners, charterers, agents etc.

For Inquiries please contact:

Navin Perera
Senior General Manager
Mobile No: 0777 776568
Email: navin@mcocean.lk

Dinesh Gomes
Manager – Logistics
Mobile No: 0766 737943
Email : dineshg@mcocean.lk

 

 

 

 

 

0 1 Continue Reading →

Construction of East Container Terminal Recommences

(Source : themorning.lk)

  • Scheduled to be completed by 4 July 2024
  • Total investment of $ 600 million
  • Constructions on WCT to commence in February 
  • Colombo Port capacity 35 million TEUs by 2035

Construction on the Colombo East Container Terminal (ECT), which has been at a standstill since 2015, will recommence today (12), announced the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) and the Minister of Ports and Shipping yesterday (11) at a government press conference.

Speaking to the media, SLPA Chairman Capt. Nihal Keppetipola stated that construction on civil work will commence today and that the total investment for the ECT would be $ 600-700 million which involves $ 200 million for civil construction, $ 20 million for terminal operating systems, $ 300 million for equipment acquisition, and $ 100 million – which has already been spent for previous construction.

According to him, six to seven years ago, this cost of construction would have been half of the current value as prices have since escalated.

Speaking at this event, Minister of Ports and Shipping Rohitha Abeygunawardena stated that the ECT will cover a total area of 75 hectares (ha) and will consist of a total quay length of 1,320 metres, of which 420 metres had been constructed by 2015 before the regime change. He added that the remaining constructions will be completed by July 2014.

“Construction on this terminal (ECT) is scheduled to end by 4 July 2024. We will be working according to a predetermined schedule under which construction of the first 600 metres of the terminal will be completed by 4 July 2023. Furthermore, we intend to place six STS cranes and 20 RMG cranes by 4 July 2023. Under the second phase, four STS and 20 RMG cranes will be acquired by 4 January 2024. Therefore, by July 2024, we will have a fully equipped terminal with 12 STS and 40 RMG cranes which will prove to be an asset to the economy,” stated Abeygunawardena.

He further stated that the “Jayabahalu Container Terminal (JCT)”, which was our inheritance from the British, has only a depth of around 13-15 metres. Therefore, many of the large container vessels in operation today cannot enter the JCT and only small-scale feeder vessels with a capacity of 4,000 containers can access the JCT.

According to him, the primary revenue generator of the Colombo Port is re-exporting, which requires the capacity to handle the largest container vessels in the country. Therefore, in 2008, then President Mahinda Rajapaksa built the Colombo Breakwater which involved an investment of $ 500 million financed with $ 100 million from the SLPA and $ 400 million from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

It was this construction of the breakwater which has given Sri Lanka ownership of three more terminals, stated Abeygunawardena.

In response to allegations made by the Opposition regarding the sale of terminals, he pointed to the fact that the cost of construction of a terminal is around $ 1 billion. He further claimed that in 2015, when the Yahapalana Government came into power, over 420 metres of the Eastern Terminal had already been constructed and they had ordered three STS cranes in order for the ECT to function as a fully equipped terminal.

“However, the Yahapalana Government cancelled our order for cranes and failed to lengthen the terminal even by one metre,” claimed Abeygunawardena.

He further disclosed that the construction of the Western Container Terminal (WCT) is scheduled to commence in February under a public-private partnership (PPP).

He further claimed: “The Colombo Port is currently ranked 23rd among major ports in the globe with a capacity of seven million TEUs and following the completion of the ECT, the total capacity would increase to 10 million TEUs and once the WCT is completed in 2025, our total capacity would be 14 million TEUs, increasing our rank to 13th.”

Commenting on the future plans of the SLPA, he claimed that the second phase of the WCT will commence in 2028 and that the northern breakwater, which will be constructed near the Kelani River, will provide Sri Lanka access to three more terminals, increasing the capacity of the Colombo Port to 35 million TEUs by 2035, taking Sri Lanka to the top five ports in the world.

Moreover, Capt. Keppetipola lamented over the delay in the construction of the ECT with constructions at a standstill since 2015 and pointed out that the Colombo International Container Terminal (CICT) achieved a capacity of 3.2 million TEUs in 2021 because of the deep draught which can handle the largest vessels of the world, and claimed that the failure to proceed with the construction of the ECT since 2015 has deprived the SLPA a similar opportunity.

He further stated: “80% of the world’s volume of shipboard containers are handled by the three major alliances – 2M, Ocean Alliance, and THE alliance – whose portfolios contain mega ships and looking at their order books over the next one to two years, they have ordered over 270 ships with a capacity of over 10,000 TEUs. Looking at the order books, we can see that while a majority of new orders are below seven million TEUs, there are little to no orders for new vessels between seven to 10 million TEUs. This shows that only feeder vessels and mega lines will be built in the future, thus placing Sri Lanka in a unique position to become the feeder nerve centre in South Asia as no main line will deviate from the east-west shipping line due to various cost constraints.”

0 0 Continue Reading →

SLPA establishes first Intermediate Covid Treatment Centre

Source : Daily News (23.08.2021)

Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) is taking steps to establish an Intermediate Covid Treatment Centre (ICTC) as a measure to provide immediate separate lodging and medical treatment to Covid positive employees until they are relocated at an available government hospital.

The ICTC will be established and implemented in accordance with the Covid-19 guidelines by the Ministry of Health. The Centre will be operated under the fullest supervision of the Chief of SLPA’s Covid Prevention Action Committee (CPAC) – Director (Human Resources) Mr.Nalin Aponso and under inspection of Dr. Sanduni Liyanage of the SLPA’s Medical Division. The ICTC of SLPA being constructed with all facilities will commence operation in a few more days’ time. SLPA believes that these measures will avoid the risk of family members of the employees being infected with the virus and will also help maintain the employees’ high level of mentality at work.

This is the first ever Intermediate Covid Treatment Centre (ICTC) by a public institution in Sri Lanka. The Centre is implemented on the instructions of the Chairman of SLPA, Capt. Nihal Keppetipola. The Chairman has expressed his gratitude to the members of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Union, employees and many volunteers who worked tirelessly even after working hours to make ICTC a success.

0 0 Continue Reading →

McOcean pioneers fumigation, disinfection and sanitization services in Sri Lanka

Since launching its unique service 2020 in the midst of the ongoing global pandemic engulfing the world McOcean Logistics has seen steady progress in the number customer requiring its services.

Adhering to local and international standards and utilizing the best-in-class equipment, personnel, and chemicals McOcean has currently carried out operations both in the ports of Colombo and Galle at anchorage and off port limits (OPL) with potential opportunities to offer these services in Trincomalee and Hambanthota ports as well.

This has been made possible with our network, personnel, and floating assets capable of bringing this service to any type of vessel including Tankers, Container Carriers, Bulk Carriers and Yachts etc with minimum, diversion from its course.

McOcean is committed to providing these services around the clock to service the requirements of shipping lines, shipowners, charterers, agents etc.

0 1 Continue Reading →

Sri Lanka to invite investors for BOT port warehouse complex

Sri Lanka’s Minister of Ports and Shipping was given the go ahead to call investors to build a warehouse in the capital Colombo on a build operate transfer (BOT) basis, the state information office said.

The cabinet of minister had approved the proposal to build the warehouse for the Sri Lanka Ports Authority.

It will be built in Bloemendal area, near Colombo Port.

The warehouse complex will have facilities to handle full and less than full containers, re-exports, entrepot trade and reefer containers, for which there was already a demand.

There warehouse will be part of a program to improve port services to shippers.

Source: Economynext (27.01.2021)

0 1 Continue Reading →

Sri Lanka to invite investors for elevated BOT highway in Colombo

Sri Lanka’s will call investors for a fully foreign funded elevated highway in the capital Colombo to be built as a Build Operate Transfer (BOT) project, the state information office said.

Sri Lanka’s cabinet of ministers had cleared the request for proposals (RFPs) for the elevated highway as a fully foreign funded project.

The expressway will run from the New Kelani Bridge, along a Port Access Elevated Highway and will connect to the Athurugiriya interchange of the Outer Circular Highway, the statement said.

It will go through the suburb of Rajagiriya.

Source: Economynext (27.01.2021)

0 1 Continue Reading →

Sri Lanka seeking investor for East Terminal, expert committee report awaited: Ports Minister

Sri Lanka is seeking an investor to complete the East Container Terminal of the Colombo Port and a report from a technical committee is awaited, Ports and Shipping Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena said.

He said 440 metres of the 1320 metre East Container Terminal had been built by Sri Lanka Ports Authority. Four years ago it was estimated that 590 million dollars would be needed to complete it.

“We have to complete this terminal by 2022,” Minister Abeygunawardena told parliament. “If we don’t, we will face the challenge of companies that are doing business with our hub moving elsewhere.”

“So we have called for investors for 500 million dollars. We have a debt problem. Our policy is not to take debt. We are calling an investor. The ownership of the jetty will remain with the Sri Lanka government.

“An investor can come. He can spend 600 million dollar. He will have to earn it. That is the economic process of the world.”

He was responding to a question by Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna legislator Anura Dissanayake whether Adani group of India will be given a 51 stake in a terminal company.

Dissanayake suggested that a cabinet paper by Minister Abeygunewardene had proposed that 51 percent be given to an Indian company and 29 percent retained with Sri Lanka Port Authority.

Under terminal concession, a jetty is typically leased for 25 to 40 years under a build operate transfer agreement, with royalties and revenues shares to come.

Abeygunawardena said 370 million dollars in revenues had been earned from CICT terminal and only 100,000 dollars a year from Hambantota port.

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said on 2017.04.26 an agreement was signed by Ministry of Development Strategies and International Trade with the Government of India without involving the Ports and Shipping Ministry

On 2019.05.28 an agreement was signed with India and Japan.

Minister Abeygunewardene said a memorandum of co-operation was an inter-governmental agreement.

Source : Economy next – 06/01/2021

0 0 Continue Reading →

Sri Lanka to airports for tourist flights from January 21: Tourism Minister

Sri Lanka will open airports for commercial tourist flights from January 21, 2021

0 0 Continue Reading →

SLPA lays foundation stone for new Container Freight Station

Laying of the foundation stone for the new Container Freight Station.

0 0 Continue Reading →