Category: Shipping and Transport

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 […]

ATHENS, November 22, 2008 (AFP) – A Greek-owned chemical tanker freed by Somali pirates was heading for Saudi Arabia Saturday, Greece’s merchant shipping ministry said. To receive instant alerts from LBO on your Dialog mobile type ‘act (space) lbo’ and send to 678 The pirates had released the Liberian-flagged MV Genius on Friday after holding […]

HONG KONG, November 20, 2008 (AFP) – A Hong Kong-flagged ship captained by a Sri Lankan that was hijacked two months ago off the coast of Somalia is returning home after its owner paid a ransom to a group of pirates, AFP was told Thursday. A spokeswoman for Sinotrans Shipping said its vessel Great Creation […]

Nov 16, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lankan customs authorities are holding a ship that carried 72,000 tonnes of wheat to a mill owned by Prima of Singapore in the eastern port of Trincomalee, a media report said. The report said Prima Ceylon Ltd general manager Jay Ong had declined to comment. The Sunday Times newspaper […]

Nov 11, 2008 (LBO) – The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), which suffered a loss last year, plans to maintain tight control of finances and minimise waste in a campaign to cut costs, its new chairman Priyath Wickrema said. The SLPA would be conducting energy and fuel audits and each of its divisions would have […]

Nov 03, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Hemas group has bought a stake in ship owner and operator Mercantile Shipping Company as part of a strategic thrust into the shipping business. Hemas Holdings said in a stock exchange filing that it invested in a 17 percent stake in Mercantile Shipping Co., which represents 426,223 ordinary […]

Oct 27, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Hayleys group has tied up with UK based Edgo Merap to enter the oil and gas industry support services industry, the company said, with Sri Lanka having issued its first exploration license earlier in the year. It provides drilling services, hydro-geological studies and land development. The group also […]

MANILA, October 26, 2008 (AFP) – Amid dire predictions that trade will slow next year due to the global financial crisis, hundreds of Filipino seamen still gather in downtown Manila everyday to scan the positions vacant notices. Wilfredo Narte, a 66-year-old Filipino sailor, has seen it all before as he walks past a group of […]

Oct 22, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tigers have staged a suicide attack on merchant ships carrying supplies to the northern Jaffna peninsular early Wednesday, the defence ministry said. The merchant ships Ruhuna and Nimalawa, were attacked off the Kankasanthurai harbhour, defence authorities said. Several merchant ships, some operated by Sri Lankan firms, have […]