This is a legacy page. Please click here to view the latest version.
Mon 16 Aug 2010, 07:40 GMT

Water influx ceremony at Hambantota


President Mahinda Rajapaksa inaugurates water influx ceremony at 'Magampura International Harbour'.



Sri Lanka's Hambantota Harbour was filled with water on Sunday August 15th in a ceremony attended by the country's President.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa initiated the mechanism to fill water to the harbour basin, commenting: "Every drop of water that fills up this great port should dissolve and wipe out the feelings of weakness and inability that once prevailed among us."

"This a great symbol of our moving away from the days when we said we are unable to develop for lack of funds, to a time when we can show how the country can be developed through our own strength," President Rajapaksa added.

The China-financed Hambantota Port Development project, which commenced on January 15th 2008, was initially due to be completed by April 15th 2011, and has proceeded ahead of schedule despite reports in September 2008 that the project was facing suspension due to a cash flow crisis.

President Rajapaksa said the harbour would contribute immensely to the development of the country as it would create an opportunity for Sri Lanka to become a production hub of the world.

The first phase of the project will consist of two 600 metres of general purpose berths, a 310-metre bunkering berth and a 120-metre small craft berth.

Phase one will also include a bunkering facility and tank farm, which will contain 8 tanks for marine fuel, 3 tanks containing aviation fuel and 3 for Liquid Petroleum Gas. A 15-floor administrative complex is also under construction as part of the project.

The new bunkering terminal at Hambantota is expected to provide a major boost to the Sri Lankan bunker market and it is hoped that, together with Colombo, Hambantota will become a leading port in the country. The port has been named Magampura International harbour.


VPS logo. Fuel quality management for vessels in extended idle: Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman and adjacent anchorages | Rahul Choudhuri, VPS  

Managing fuel quality deterioration following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Person signing a document. Agastya Green Fuels signs 250,000 t/yr e-methanol offtake deal with Sri Lanka’s SAR Group  

Indian producer and Sri Lankan maritime firm agree long-term green methanol supply partnership.

Bunker Holding logo. Bunker Holding seeks risk specialist for Copenhagen internal pricing desk  

Danish bunker group is expanding its internal pricing team to meet growing demand for fixed-price solutions.

Global biofuels demand chart. Biofuel demand could surge 70% by 2030 as food price fears mount  

T&E warns governments risk trading an oil crisis for a food crisis as biofuel targets strain vegetable oil and fertiliser markets.

Shore power illustration. Shore power shifts from voluntary measure to compliance requirement, DNV white paper finds  

Shore power is moving from an optional emissions tool to a regulatory obligation for shipowners in key trades.

Giosuè Vezzuto and Ahmed Eldemerdash. Baker Hughes’ NovaLT 16 gas turbine receives RINA type approval for marine propulsion on hydrogen and natural gas  

Certification covers operation on natural gas and blends up to 100% hydrogen for marine use.

AiP award ceremony for nuclear reactor integration in cargo vessel design. ABS grants approval in principle for nuclear reactor integration in cargo vessel design  

ABS, HD KSOE, Capital Maritime Group and MIT have received approval in principle for a nuclear-powered cargo vessel propulsion system.

Green e-fuel export corridor consortium partners logos. Green e-fuel export corridor between Brazil and Belgium advances to feasibility stage  

A consortium has been formed to develop a green e-fuel corridor linking Porto do Açu to Antwerp-Bruges.

Naming ceremony of Ocean Express and Ocean Navigator vessels. Sallaum Lines takes delivery of two LNG-fuelled PCTCs in simultaneous handover ceremony  

RoRo carrier receives MV Ocean Express and MV Ocean Navigator from Chinese shipyard.

Person signing a document. Agastya Group signs MoU with Andhra Pradesh government for 1 MTPA green methanol hub at Mulapeta Port  

India-based Agastya Group plans a $6.5bn green methanol export facility on the country's east coast.


↑  Back to Top