Colombo Dockyard represents Sri Lankan ship repair and shipbuilding at Sea Asia 2017, Singapore

Sri Lanka’s pioneer shipbuilding and ship repairing facility, Colombo Dockyard PLC participated at one of the leading international shipping exhibitions ‘Sea Asia 2017’ during 25-27 April in Singapore. 

Colombo Dockyard has been a regular participant at many marine exhibitions, such as Posidonia, Greece, Norshipping Norway, SMM Germany, Inmex India and other platforms over the past four decades. This is the second instance Colombo Dockyard has participated as an active exhibitor at the Sea Asia. The shipyard has been flying the Sri Lankan flag and promoting Colombo as a competitive repair and building centre in the South Asian region in Europe and Global platforms.

Singapore ship owners and managers represent a large share of the world’s floating tonnage. This naturally makes them one of the key market segments for Colombo Dockyard. This mega international marine exhibition has been a meeting place for South East Asian shipping fraternity stake holders such as: Shipyards, machinery and equipment suppliers, classification societies, flag states, shipbrokers to name a few. 

As the anchor event held in conjunction with the Singapore Maritime Week, Sea Asia enjoys strong support from government agencies and key trade associations, firmly establishing itself in the marketplace as the leading platform for both the global and local maritime and offshore communities to explore business, network and unveil new products and services.

Minster of Ports and Shipping Arjuna Ranatunga was a VIP invitee for the event; he visited the Colombo Dockyard stall with his delegation and encouraged the shipyard team to carry on the good work of flying the Sri Lankan flag high at this international forum. The High Commissioner for Sri Lanka Nimal Weeraratne visited the stall and conveyed the fullest support from his team to further strengthen the Singapore-Sri Lanka ties. 

The positive developments in the country with peaceful environment conducive for business, has been instrumental in many South East Asian, Middle Eastern and European clients looking at Colombo seriously as a potential ship repair and building facility.

During this event, some of the factors highlighted to the potential clients were: Colombo’s strategic location close to the main marine trading routes, minimal diversion for vessel’s calling to discharge in the Indian coast, quality repair services, safe working environment, Japanese expertise available through our collaboration with Onomichi Dockyard, faster turnaround times and competitive rates. The shipbuilding sector highlighted the wide product portfolio on offer for the Offshore Vessels Sector, mainly our market proven anchor handling tugs, offshore platform support vessels, crew boats, coast guard vessels, harbour tugs, work boats passenger ferries and other specialised vessels. 

Colombo Dockyard co-shared the stall with NSS (Nagasaki Sempaku Sobi Co. Ltd. Japan) a reputed Japanese accommodation module manufacturer to maximise the impact at this Exhibition. Palco Marine Services Pte Ltd. Singapore played a role in coordinating the logistics during this event. 

Colombo Dockyard team was lead by Chairman Dr. Toru Takehara, General Manager (Ship Repair Business) K.B.P. Fernando, General Manager (Material Procurement) Vajira Ratnayake, Head of Marketing (Ship Repairs) Darshana Chandrasekera and Head of Marketing, Shipbuilding Prince Lye.