Dubai’s Orient Express Lines names vessel after Colombo

Wednesday, 22 January 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Dubai based Orient Express Lines renamed one of its vessels as M.V. OEL COLOMBO at an exclusive ceremony held onboard the ship on Monday. The Minister of Ports and Highways Rohitha Abeygunawardena who was the Chief Guest unveiled the curtain on the bow of the ship showing her new name as OEL COLOMBO.

Among the other distinguished guests present were the Sri Lanka Ports Authority Chairman Dr. Priyath Bandu Wickrema, Managing Director Capt. Nihal Keppetipola and the Director General Merchant Shipping Ajith Seneviratne. Orient Express Lines Chairman S. Ramak-rishnan and Managing Director L.B. Culas too participated in the ceremony. After the unveiling of the ship’s name, a ceremony was held onboard the vessel. Orient Express Lines Vice President Marius Gomez addressed the gathering and gave a brief of the company. He also mentioned that this ship is doing her 300th voyage to Colombo and to coincide with this the vessel was being renamed. Chairman of Orient Express Lines Ramakrishnan mentioned in his speech that keeping in line with the President’s vision to make Colombo a maritime hub; this was OEL’s contribution by naming one of its ships as M.V. OEL COLOMBO. Minister Abeygu-nawardena, the SLPA Chief and Managing Director too

addressed those present. Orient Express Lines being one of the most recognised feeder operators in the region, who owns 16 vessels of various capacities and operates more than 25 other ships, commenced operations in Sri Lanka in 1992 and have been calling the Port of Colombo thereafter uninterrupted up to date. As a feeder operator Orient Express Lines (OEL) has a throughput of over 225,000 TEUs over the port and has all the blue chip shipping lines as its customers. It is one of the fastest growing shipping feeder operators in the region. In addition to feedering the parent company the Transworld Group is into ship owning, logistics, ship management, and CFS business to name a few.