Colombo Dockyard won the Sectoral Award for the Highest foreign exchange earner in Shipbuilding for the year 2017/18 at the Presidential Exports Awards held recently at the BMICH, the company said in its press release.
This is one of the highest forms of recognition given to Colombo Dockyard for the contribution towards the export efforts of the country and the selections were done by an imminent panel of judges based on multiple criteria.
Shipbuilding at Colombo Dockyard started off with the construction of small tugboats, surveillance boats and barges, catering for the local requirements. However, capacity expansion and development of the Port of Colombo saw the Port of Colombo being accepted as a modern hub Port of South Asia. With bigger vessels, more in number, calling in, the demand for bigger Tugs with added capabilities emerged. The shipyard took the challenge and met all emerging requirements of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority. A series of New Tugs with Bollard Pull Capacities of 10 Tons, 20 Tons, 40 Tons, 45 Tons, 55 Ton, 65 Tons and other Harbour Craft such as Pilot Launches, Mooring Launches, Surf Boats and Light House Service Vessels were constructed and delivered, saving millions of foreign exchange which would otherwise have been spent purchasing these vessels from a foreign suppliers.
Colombo Dockyard operates in joint collaboration with Onomichi Dockyard Company Ltd of Japan and the Sri Lankan Government holds more than 35% shares in the company. The workforce consists of Sri Lankan Engineers/ Executives and a skilled workforce of more than 3000, driving Sri Lanka towards industrialization.