Moments of the plaque exchange held on board the Vessel between the Chairman of SLPA Dr.Priyath B.Wickrama and Managing Director of MSC Lanka (Pvt) Ltd; Kamal Wijeyrathne. Managing Director of SLPA Capt.Nihal Keppetipola and the Master of the vessel Capt.Carlos Amadeo are also present here. Director (Operations) Mr. Upali Soyza, Chief Manager (Operations) Mr.Nimal Jayatissa, Chief Manager (Marketing and Business Development) Mr.Upul Jayatissa, Representatives of MSC Lanka (Pvt) Ltd; including Mr.Kingsley Abeywickrama – General Manager, Mr.Shamal Perera – General Manager (Operations & Logistics), Mr.Erwin Balachandra – Manager (Operations) and Mr.Thilanga Silva – Assistant Manager ((Operations) also attended the function, the company said in its press release.
The MSC GVA started to offer the new West Africa Service to the Jaya Container Terminal (JCT) of Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) on 03rd July 2014. The weekly service with upgraded 2000 to 3000 TEU vessels with 12.30 m maximum draft and within 275 m LOA started with the maiden call of Mv. MARE ATLANTICUM under the new service at the JCT. The vessel is the first vessel under new West Africa Express Service operated by MSC from Far East to West African Ports. This service resulting improving volume from West African Ports to Colombo and South East India. A total of 10 ships deployed with 4000 teus capacity each and it would be weekly caller to Colombo JCT.
With an optimistic note, Managing Director of SLPA Capt. Nihal Keppetipola stated that the new weekly service with the Main Line MSC would be high potential to boost the transshipment industry via the JCT of SLPA. “ The new service allows us to link Sri Lanka directly with the West African Ports, and enable cargo born at West African Ports to be transshipped to India, Bangladesh and Pakistan via Sri Lanka. The service would also anticipate significant volumes on imports from West African Ports and South/East Indian Ports to Colombo. The enhanced capacity at the Port of Colombo has resulted in many new developments in cargo handling and the efficiency expressed at the Jaya Container Terminal (JCT) of Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) has further strengthened the credibility by the port users on services provided by us,” Managing Director of SLPA Capt.Nihal Keppetipola said.
Expressing views on the new service Managing Director of MSC Lanka (Pvt) Ltd; Kamal Wijeyrathne stated that in line with the objectives to improve the services, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A. was pleased to announce the start of its dedicated service between Asia and West Africa. “All MSC existing volumes moved today in trans-shipment via Mediterranean will now be shipped directly to West Africa with an improved transit time to Tinca-Lagos in 28 days from Chiwan and 23 days from Singapore. The service will also be calling Port Louis on its way to West Africa,” he added. The port rotation of the service will be Nansha, Chiwan, Singapore, Port Louis, Tincan Island-Lagos, San Pedro, Abidjan, Coega, Colombo, Singapore, Nansha.
“Calling this service at JCT illustrates close relationship MSC Geneva and JCT due to high standard service levels we are enjoying at JCT, ” Managing Director of MSC Lanka (Pvt) Ltd; Kamal Wijeyrathne added. He also thanked the Chairman and the Management of SLPA for all timely steps taken towards boosting the Port of Colombo with modern infrastructure and superstructure facilities for efficient and speedy operational procedures. Apart from the new West Africa service, MSC is operating 3 mainline services and 2 feeder service at JCT.
To commemorate the maiden call of the vessel Mv. MARE ATLANTICUM under the new service, a plaque exchange was also held on board the vessel between the Chairman of SLPA Dr.Priyath B.Wickrama and Managing Director of MSC Lanka (Pvt) Ltd; Kamal Wijeyrathne. Master of the vessel Capt.Carlos Amadeo also took part in the plaque exchange.