Ports Authority selects AECOM to carry out feasibility study on Colombo North Port project
The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) has selected AECOM Infrastructure & Environment UK Limited to do a feasibility study on the proposed Colombo North Port (CNP) project.
An SLPA statement said AECOM was selected through the established procurement process.
The signing of the agreement between AECOM and the SLPA on the feasibility study was carried out on February 20, with the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers.
The agreement was signed by SLPA Chairman General Daya Ratnayake and SLPA
Managing Director Capt. Athula Hewavitharana for the SLPA and AECOM Infrastructure & Environment UK Limited Regional Director and Authorised Representative Ralph Lionel Phillips, for AECOM.
Also present at the event was AECOM Infrastructure & Environment UK Limited Technical Director Peter Neville Jones.
Under the Asian Development Bank (Adb)-funded Transport Project Preparatory facility, the SLPA has a facility to be used for a feasibility study for the proposed CNP.
The duration of the study is expected to be 15 months.
The CNP will be developed on the northern side of the existing Colombo port and may spread from Kelani River in the Modara area, up to the existing northern breakwater of the port.
The SLPA intends to use the proposed CNP, which is planned in phases depending on the demand for liquid bulk, dry bulk, Ro-ro and containers.
The Colombo South Port predominantly focuses on transshipment and domestic container handling.
As the energy demand of the country increases rapidly with the large developments taking place in the Colombo city, the requirement of a terminal facility for the importation of liquefy natural gas (LNG) is becoming a mandatory requirement.
The capacity of the Port of Colombo within the existing breakwaters is around 12 million TEUS per annum.
The extension of the West Container Terminal brings the capacity of the Port of Colombo at the range of 15 million TEUS. This has been planned for the next 10 years, for which a feasibility study and a detailed technical study have been completed and ready to be implemented.
The SLPA intends to increase its container handling capacity at the Port of Colombo to 35 million TEUS within the next 30 years.