Maersk Line renews Terminal Service Agreement with SLPA

Colombo: Renewed commitment from a top shipping line calling at the Colombo port was an impetus to the Sri Lanka Ports Authority coming in wake of the recent industrial action. This had therefore brought about much enthusiasm for the authority.

Maersk Line a longstanding customer of SLPA renewed its commitment with a Terminal Service Agreement with the shipping line having enhanced their operations in Colombo.

“SLPA had gained better progress through higher productivity level during the past period under the guidance Ports and Foreign Affairs Minster Managala Samaraweera”, SLPA Chairman Saliya Wickramasuriya stated.

Speaking of the TSA he asserted that this was a good boost for the SLPA with Maersk having enhanced their operations at the Colombo port.“We will do everything to facilitate their operations here,” the chairman reiterated.

In this business relationship with the shipping line, he identified Maersk as an important player in the region.

Maersk Lines General manager South Asia Area Julian Bevis told the media that they were confident of the services provided by the SLPA.

“This is a continuation from the agreement they had signed in 2003 and because of the long term and good relationship we had with the SLPA we have come to signing of this agreement,” Mr. Bevis said.

The Port of Colombo had handled 1430517 of Twenty foot Equivalent Units (TEU) during the first 6 months of 2006 and only 1173725 TEUs for the same period in 2005, and thus the port had 2569792 TEUs in the first 6 months of 2006 compared to the numbers handled in 2005 making a growth of 21.9 percent.