Colombo Dockyard delivers third pilot launch built for SLPA

Colombo Dockyard PLC (CDPLC) last week delivered a pilot launch, the third pilot launch, as per an agreement signed with Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) in February 2019. 

This ceremony was graced by State Minister of Warehouse Facilities, Container Yards, Port Supply Facilities, Boats and Shipping Industry Development Jayantha Samaraweera, Secretary of Warehouse Facilities, Container Yards, Port Supply Facilities, Boats and Shipping Industry Development State Ministry D.D. Mataraarachchi, SLPA Chairman General R.M. Daya Ratnayake, SLPA Vice Chairman Dr. Prasantha Jayamanna, SLPA Harbour Master Capt. Nirmal Silva, General Merchant Shipping Director Ajith Seneviratne, Senior Surveyor Class LR Jagath Kumara, and several other distinguished guests from SLPA.  

CDPLC Chairman H. Tanaka, MD/CEO D.V. Abeysinghe, Director K. Kanaya, Technical Advisor S. Asai and a host of other senior management and staff representing Colombo Dockyard participated at this momentous occasion. 

The pilot launch was designed by MACDUFF Ship Design Ltd. of Scotland and this pilot launch will serve to transport pilots from shore to ship. It can accommodate a total number of eight persons including four crew members and four pilots and it can achieve a service speed of 22 knots.

This ceremony was organised and conducted in a modest scale and in a simple manner paying special attention to the Government’s health and safety guidelines placed in view of the COVID-19 outbreak, depicting CDPLC’s corporate social responsibility towards the prevention of any possible transmission of the COVID-19 at workplaces. CDPLC operates in joint collaboration with Onomichi Dockyard Company Ltd. of Japan who owns a stake of 51% at Colombo Dockyard, while Sri Lankan Government institutions have a 35% shareholding at Colombo Dockyard 

As one of the leaders of the shipbuilding industry in Sri Lanka, CDPLC continuously proves its excellence by successfully securing shipbuilding projects both local and overseas. 

CDPLC is the front runner of Sri Lankan industrialisation and is one of the main contributors to the Government’s National Export Strategy from the shipbuilding sector.