Category: Shipping and Transport

Jan 06, 2009 (LBO) – The Sri Lankan government will call for proposals from the private sector to build a container terminal in a new port being built next to Colombo before the end of January, a senior port official said. The Asian Development Bank has loaned the bulk of the funds for the infrastructure […]

Jan 01, 2009 (LBO) – A port being built in southern Sri Lanka near the main shipping route across the Indian Ocean is part of a Chinese effort to project influence and protect vital trade lanes, a US military study said.But the Washington Times also quoted a US Chinese Embassy spokesman Wang Baodong as calling […]

Dec 31, 2008 (LBO) – Container shipping company American President Line (APL) is to resume calls at Colombo Port’s state-run terminals after an absence of several years, Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) officials said. APL, a unit of Singapore’s Neptune Orient Lines, originally called at SLPA terminals. But the line shifted to SAGT when it […]

Dec 30, 2008 (LBO) – Evergreen Line has said it has introduced a new feeder service with Singapore-based Sea Consortium linking Sri Lanka’s Colombo port with ports in India and Pakistan. A statement from the shipping line, operated by Taiwan’s Evergreen Marine Corporation, said the Arabian Express Service (ASX) offers a weekly rotation. The ships […]

Dec 30, 2008 (LBO) – The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) has completed dredging of the northern entrance to Colombo port, senior SLPA officials said. Port users have said such navigation restrictions cause congestion in the harbour, resulting in delays in cargo handling and turning around container ships. The SLPA has tested sonar systems to […]

BEIJING, December 27, 2008 (AFP) – China plans to offer incentives for car owners to scrap their old models in favour of new ones, in a bid to lift the auto industry as it enters a period of crisis, state media said Saturday. The measure is part of a new package being prepared in Beijing […]

Dec 24, (2008) – The Sri Lankan government is trying to expedite a long-delayed project to call for private investors to build a new terminal in Colombo port, a senior ministry of ports and aviation official said.Ministry secretary Thosapala Hewage the attorney-general, the chief government legal officer, recently gave his opinion on the request for […]

Dec 23, 2008 (LBO) – The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) said it has struck a deal with Emirates Shipping Line to call at Colombo port. Its Gulf Indian-Subcontinent Africa service connects the Indian Subcontinent and Middle East with East Africa with a scheduled weekly service with short transit times. “The line is using Colombo […]

Dec 22, 2008 (LBO) – The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) said it plans to build a new head office to house its offices now scattered throughout Colombo port and will not buy a hotel as planned previously. The SLPA is trying to get more space inside the harbour for its cargo operations with volumes […]

NAIROBI, December 13, 2008 (AFP) – Somali pirates have released a Greek chemical tanker seized in October but three crew members are feared dead, a Kenyan maritime official said Saturday. Somali pirates are still holding at least 14 foreign vessels and more than 300 crew members to ransom, including an arms-laden Ukrainian cargo and a […]

Dec 7, 2008 (LBO) – Often blamed for road accidents, but first on the scene to ferry victims of accidents or bomb blasts, Sri Lanka’s errant tuk tuk drivers are learning first aid skills to save lives.Drivers of the tiny auto-rickshaw taxis, commonly called “autos”, “trishaws”, or “three-wheelers” are being taught pre-hospital care to prevent […]

Nov 25, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Colombo harbour needs to reduce dependence on the Indian sub-continent and expand its coverage to get cargo from elsewhere in order to emerge as a true global hub port, a senior port professional says. To receive instant alerts from LBO on your Dialog mobile type ‘lbo’ and send […]