HIP invests $ 8 m in new RORO yard to serve growing demand

A GLOVIS vessel unloading vehicles for transhipment at the currently available yard facility, adjacent to the new 68,000 m² RORO yard being built

With more RORO ships calling at the Hambantota International Port (HIP), the port will be adding a further 5000 slots to accommodate transhipment vehicles.

HIP, which currently has the capacity to accommodate approximately 28,000 units, services nine main shipping lines who actively use the port for transhipment of RORO cargo. With large volumes expected via several shipping lines in the coming months, the port management considers the rapid expansion of the RORO yard an urgent necessity.

In line with that, HIPG has made an $ 8 million investment to build another 68,000 m² of parking space. The facility which will be completed within the next seven months, will have a yard to berth distance of 55m.

“HIP is becoming an attractive destination for RORO transhipment due to a combination of factors, the top most marketable aspect being our reliability, closely followed by our safety standards, speed of execution and strategic location,” of Hambantota International Port Group Chief Operating Officer

Tissa Wickramasinghe said.

“As the global economy gradually improves, we expect to see a further increase of our volumes. In order to give confidence to its customers, HIPG will continue to make investments in areas of strategic importance to the long term development of HIP. This is a continuous process and is done in line with global trends to build capacity ahead of demand,” he added.

RORO volumes at HIP have reached over 271,000 units as at May 2023, and the port plans on seeing a significant growth in the number by the close of the year.