Colombo Dockyard opens branch office at HIPG Maritime Centre, Hambantota

Monday, 16 December 2019 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Exchanging of the symbolic agreement documents by CDPLC Chairman H. Tanaka and HIPG CEO Ray Ren. CDPLC Managing Director and CEO D.V. Abeysinghe and Head of Marketing Ship Repairs Darshana Chandrasekera look on

CDPLC Managing Director and CEO D.V. Abeysinghe (centre) and Chief Operating Officer K.B.P. Fernando cut the ribbon to ceremonially declare open the office. CDPLC Head of Marketing Ship Repairs Darshana Chandrasekera looks on

CDPLC Chairman H. Tanaka opening the name plaque

Move aimed at focusing on expanding afloat ship repairs at HIPG facility and providing required heavy engineering solutions for port development and maintenance

The Colombo Dockyard PLC (CDPLC) ceremonially opened an office at the Hambantota International Port Group Ltd. (HIPG), at the HIPG Maritime Centre on 10 December.

The ceremonial opening of the plaque was done by CDPLC Chairman H. Tanaka, at the auspicious time of 10.41 a.m, followed by cutting of the ribbon by Managing Director and CEO D. V Abeysinghe and Chief Operating Officer K.B.P Fernando.

The official exchanging of the agreement between Chairman Tanaka and HIPG CEO Ray Ren was carried out to mark this historic day in the journey of Colombo Dockyard. The opening ceremony was graced by the senior team of Colombo Dockyard and HIPG/HIPS and maritime industry seniors.

The strategic maritime location of Hambantota, in close proximity to the key maritime sea routes, will allow Colombo Dockyard to offer afloat repair services to a multitude of vessels calling for transhipment, bunkering and other operations and dedicated afloat repairs.

Colombo Dockyard’s presence at HIPG will allow them to handle larger size (VLCC) vessels comfortably, taking advantage of HIPG’s deep draft berthing facilities and excellent support services for afloat repairs.

CDPLC Chairman Tanaka said: “Colombo Dockyard’s recently launched the Rapid Response Afloat Repair Service (RRARS) with the focus to provide afloat repairs at all Sri Lankan ports, to play a crucial role in providing the required repair support to the vessels calling at Hambantota Port.”

MD and CEO Abeysinghe said: “This capacity augmentation for afloat repairs in Sri Lanka is expected to bring in much-needed foreign exchange to the Sri Lankan economy.” Thus expanding the Colombo Dockyard’s ship repair footprint in Sri Lanka to the deep south of the island.

COO Fernando emphasised that Dockyard General Engineering Services (DGES), a subsidiary of CDPLC which is specialising in providing heavy engineering solutions for mega mechanical and civil related projects, is ideally geared to provide required heavy engineering services for future expansion phases of the port.

Established in 1974, Colombo Dockyard is a Board of Investment (BOI) registered establishment, listed in the Colombo Stock Exchange, operating in collaboration with Onomichi Dockyard Co. Ltd. Japan since 1993 (for over 26 years), and is the pioneer ship repair, shipbuilding and heavy and offshore engineering facility.