The Chinese-funded Magam Ruhunupura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port
(MRMRP) in Hambantota has
recorded revenue of
Rs.5.39 billion for the year 2014,
compared to Rs.0.58 billion in 2013,
statistics released by Sri Lanka Ports Authority showed (SLPA).
The bulk of the revenue— Rs.4.26 billion— has
come from bunkering operations that
began June 2014,
with a US $ 76.5 million bunkering terminal.
The port received 134 vessels calling for bunkers up to December 2014 for a total volume of 53,487 metric
tonnes.
According to the SLPA, replenishment of stocks
are ongoing with major
suppliers getting actively involved in
the supply chain ensuring timely supplies and quality of the products.
“MRMRP is fast becoming a major stopover for
vessels to stem bunkers with its brand
new tank farm and terminal complex in full operation.
The main
customers are the very large bulk carriers and Crude Oil tankers which are plying the busy sea lanes in the
region,” SLPA said in a statement.
The tank farm
with 8 tanks for fuel bunkering facilities for
vessels,
3 tanks for aero fuel
and 3 tanks for storing LP gas
can initially handle 55,000 tonnes of shipping
fuel
and is expected to add another 100,000 tonnes under the second phase.(
There are 3 phases going on till 2023)
Meanwhile, revenue
from vehicle handling for the year 2014 stood at Rs.1.12 billion.
The port handled 254 vessels carrying vehicles(transhipmnet-jksw)
(Ro-Ro vessels)
compared to 137 Ro-Ro vessels in 2013.
The total
number of motor vehicles handled this year was 188,791
against 64,524 units in 2013, SLPA said.
As a measure to
ease the long berthing delays experienced by Ro-Ro ( trans-ship) vessels in
Colombo,
Colombo harbor is enlarging to 6 times its
former size. Try a satellite view at night. (jksw)
SLPA has been routing such vessels to MRMRP
from June, 2012.
Meanwhile, MRMRP
has handled 37,631 domestic
and 151,160 transshipment units in RO-RO
operations this year,
against last year’s 25, 875 and 38, 649 units,
respectively.
SLPA said, 70 percent of the second phase of MRMRP has
been completed by now
and will be ready for operations during the
final quarter of 2015.
The phase one of MRMRP is estimated to cost US
$ 361 million, excluding bunkering terminal,
while phase two is priced at an estimated US $
808 million.
The ‘Agreement on Key Terms for Supply, Operate
and Transfer (SOT) of Container Terminal Hambantota Port Development Project
Phase II’
was entered into this September in the presence
of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.
Dr Wickrama signed on behalf of Sri Lanka.
Signing for China were representatives of China
Merchants Holdings International (CMHI) and China Communication Construction
Company Ltd. (CCCC).
The former already operates the new Colombo
International Container Terminal (CICT)
and the latter is building the 233-hectare
Colombo Port City.
The partners in the Hambantota SOT will be CMHI
and China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd, an engineering contractor and
subsidiary of CCCC.
According to a filing made by CMHI to the Hong
Kong Stock Exchange,
it will hold 64.98 percent of the project
company
while SLPA will have the remaining 35.02
percent.
“The concession period to be granted to the
project company under the SOT agreement shall initially be 35 years from the
commencement of operation of the SOT project,
which can be extended by five years at the
option of the project company,” CMHI said in the filing.
- See more at:
http://www.dailymirror.lk/59873/hambantota-port-records-rs-5-4bn-revenue-in-2014#sthash.1q8yilD0.dpuf
