The first ship carrying vehicles berthed at the Magam Ruhunupura Mahinda Rajapaksa (MRMR) Port at Hambantota a short while ago, Sri Lanka Ports Authority stated.

The vessel N4K Fricia from Japan had called at the port with 15 vehicles for transhipment yesterday followed by the vessel Asian Sun calling from Chennai in India today morning carrying more than 1,000 vehicles for transhipment.

The vehicles brought by the vessel Asian Sun will be transhipped to Algeria by the car carrier Asian Legend, according to the Government Information Department.
 
On Consultation made by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority with shipping lines and importers, they have agreed to route all vehicle carrying vessels through Hambantota port for transshipment.  This measure will ease the long berthing delays experienced by Ro-Ro vessels at the Port of Colombo.
 
The National Hydrographic Department printed the navigation chart for the MRMR Port, and the British Admiralty has also issued a notice to mariners regarding the establishment of the port.
 
At present due to non-availability of dedicated automobile terminal in the Port of Colombo and lack of yard storage areas, Roll on-Roll off vessels have suffered long delays in berthing at the Colombo Port.
 
The Chairman of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Dr. Priyath Bandu Wickrema said that the new arrangement will enable to reduce congestion over Colombo, introduce quicker clearance system with SL Customs where the document processing can be done in either Hambantota or Colombo without any delay and promote transhipment business with a dedicated automobile handling terminal facility available in the Hambantota Port.