Colombo Dockyard represents Sri Lankan ship repair and shipbuilding at Sea Asia 2019, Singapore

From left: Sanjay Palocaran – Palco Marine, Colombo Dockyard Director K. Kanaya, First Secretary (Commercial) Nalika Kodikara, Act. High Commissioner O.L Ameer Ajwad, Head of Marketing, Ship Repairs Darshana Candrasekera, Head of Marketing, Shipbuilding Prince Lye, Senior Engineer, Invoicing and Marketing Amila Rukshan

Sri Lanka’s pioneer shipbuilding and ship repairing facility, Colombo Dockyard PLC participated at one of the leading international shipping exhibitions ‘Sea Asia 2019’ during 9-11 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 third 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.

The Sri Lankan High Commissioner O.L. Ameer Ajward 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 and conveyed the fullest support from his team to further strengthen the Singapore-Sri Lanka ties.   

This platform was used to inform the market of the latest shipyard developments offerings, such as the newly formed Rapid Response Afloat repair team that can be mobilised swiftly at any Sri Lankan port to attend to multiple type of afloat repairs. The shipyard’s readiness to handle installation of Ballast Water Treatment systems and Scrubbers, which is a requirement as a result of the IMO statutory regulations kicking in on 1 January 2020.  

During this event, some of the other key 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 complex vessels such as the cable layer vessels and 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.  

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.

Colombo Dockyard team was led by Director K. Kanaya, Head of Marketing, Ship Repairs Darshana Chandrasekera, Head of Marketing, Ship Building Prince Lye and Senior Engineer – Invoicing and Marketing Amila Rukshan. Sanjay Pallocaran and Vishnu Prasad – Palco Marine, Singapore.