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In an important landmark for the Sri Lankan ports sector, Hambantota International Port (HIP) has commenced its inaugural container transshipment service operated by the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC). MSC Ingrid made its maiden call at HIP on 9th April, discharging a total of more than 500 TEU of transshipment containers to be connected to a second carrier, MSC Sky 11, expected to call at the port on 16th April. The first shipment of containers consigned to the multipurpose port originated from Rotterdam and will reach their final destination, Dubai, after being transhipped.
Johnson Liu, CEO of Hambantota International Port Group (HIPG), said, “We are confident our container transshipment service will enhance Sri Lanka’s position in the marine connectivity index for the South Asian region. With MSC’s collaborative partnership, HIPG will now look at expanding our investment in equipment and other infrastructure facilities, enabling us to service larger vessels on the east west shipping route.”
The CEO thanked the Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation, Nimal Siripala de Silva, for granting the required approvals to facilitate shipping connectivity between HIP and the Port of Colombo. As a result, local importers and exporters will be able to make direct shipments and/or transshipment between HIP and Colombo, reducing greenhouse gas emissions as opposed to road transport.
COO of HIPG Tissa Wickremasinghe added: “The introduction of container services through HIP will be a major boost to investors in the Port Industrial Zone, who will now benefit from directly importing their raw material requirements for production and the export of their finished products directly through HIP, thereby making HIP both a gateway and transshipment port.”
