ONE launches third service at SAGT

Monday, 25 June 2018 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

From left: ONE Lanka Senior General Manager Ayesh Perera, ONE Lanka General Manager – Product and Network Lohitha Hettiarachchi, NYK Themis Chief Officer Jhinjha Jayant Kumar, NYK Themis Master Capt. Gagandeep Singh, SAGT Chief Executive Officer Romesh David, SAGT General Manager Operations Upul Jinadasa, ONE Lanka Managing Director Vishvanath Daluwatte

Ocean Network Express (ONE), the mega carrier born out of the merger between three Japanese giants of the shipping industry NYK, MOL and K Line launched its third service at South Asia Gateway Terminals (SAGT), Port of Colombo with a maiden call on 7 June.

To mark this occasion, a plaque exchange ceremony was held aboard NYK Themis. Chief Executive Officer Romesh David and General Manager Operations Upul Jinadasa, represented South Asia Gateway Terminals while Managing Director Vishvanath Daluwatte, Senior General Manager Ayesh Perera, General Manager – Product and Network Lohitha Hettiarachchi, represented ONE Lanka.

Presenting the plaque to Capt. Gagandeep Singh, Master of the NYK Themis, Romesh David, Chief Executive Officer of SAGT commented, “SAGT is delighted to welcome the NYK Themis on her maiden call in Colombo on the ONE PS3 service. We are privileged to serve as the primary terminal in the Port of Colombo for ONE services and look forward to growing the business over the Port of Colombo together. We wish Capt. Gagandeep Singh and crew a safe voyage.”

ONE Lanka Managing Director Vishvanath Daluwatte confidently expressed, “We are pleased to bring forth a brand new option of a direct service between Colombo and the US West Coast to serve the needs of our customers. We look forward to collaborate further with SAGT and the Port of Colombo to grow our business.”

The three lines NYK, MOL and K Line first announced the merger in November 2016 and commenced single joint operations in April 2018, making them the sixth largest carrier by size with nearly 7% market share. With a fleet of 230 containerships The company seeks to meet customers’ needs by providing high-quality, competitive container shipping services with the consolidation and enhancement of the three companies’ global network and service structures. The integration lets ONE to incorporate best practices from the three companies and to take advantage of their combined 1,440,000 TEU fleet size. Supported by a worldwide high level, globally-connected organisation, it offers 85 service loops and a comprehensive network linking more than 200 of the world’s major ports.

ONE has already launched two services at SAGT, namely, EC5 & TIP since the commencement of its operations in April 2018.

South Asia Gateway Terminals (SAGT) the first private container terminal in Sri Lanka (with approximately 60% of Sri Lankan shareholding) and commenced operations in 1999, launching the Port of Colombo as global trade’s preeminent gateway hub to South Asia.

Today, the terminal is one of three operators in the Port of Colombo and continues to offer the international container shipping community a competitive best in class service. SAGT is a Board of Investment flagship company consisting of four shareholders – John Keells Holdings, Maersk/APM Terminals, SLPA and Peony investments (subsidiary of Evergreen Marine Corporation).