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Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) has revealed that the port of Colombo has expanded its bunkering facilities with the launch of a new berth for oil tankers.

The New North Pier, which will be used as a multi-purpose berthing facility for oil tankers, handled its first oil tanker on December 30th with the arrival of the vessel MT Heavan.

The launch of the new pier followed the reopening of the northern entrance to Colombo after it had been reportedly closed due to terrorist threats, causing severe congestion at the port.

The port has been plagued with problems of delays in loading and unloading tankers and vessel congestion and it is hoped that the new berthing facility will improve Colombo's competitiveness as a bunkering location.

In addition to the pier, a new state of the art oil pump pipeline system has been built to connect the new pier with the South Jetty for oil transportation, thus bolstering the port's capacity to carry out bunkering operations.

The new system is also expected to enable oil products to be transported from Colombo port to the oil storage tanks managed by JCT Ltd. Oil Bank - a fully owned subsidiary of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) - in a more productive and efficient mannner.

Furthermore, construction of an additional storage tank with a capacity of 5,200 metric tons is said to be in progress, while a survey is being carried out to explore the possibility of building another, though its capacity has not het been decided.