COLOMBO: Sri Lanka is seeking international bidders to procure 16 container handling cranes for the East Container Terminal (ECT) at the Colombo Port.
A proposal put forward by the Minister of Ports and Shipping Arjuna Ranatunga to procure 4 handling cranes and 12 gantry cranes required for this container terminal has been approved by the cabinet.
Accordingly, the Ministry will pursue international competitive bidding method as prescribed in Government Procurement Guidelines to procure the 16 cranes.
The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) has invested US$ 80 million for the construction of the initial 400m of the 1200m long East Container Terminal to increase the container handling capacity and its construction works are in their final stage.
The quay wall of the ECT is designed to cater the container vessels of 230,000 DWT with dimensions of 400m long 24 boxes wide to berth alongside water depth of 18m. The quay is designed to support a 65Ton Ship to Shore crane (STS), a 30 meter rail span, a back reach area and roads.
According to SLPA, the terminals will be developed with modern technology such as computerized terminal management systems. The use of latest technology will help to increase the throughput, vessel turnaround, productivity and the revenues of the Colombo Port.
