Operations at the Colombo Port are now returning to normal, despite a few delays in container clearance.
The container backlog at the Colombo Port caused by the Covid 19 closure has now been cleared and the Port has already started the usual operations.
All Ceylon Container Transport Employees’ Union (ACCTEU) General Secretary B.I. Abdeen has explained that although the containers stuck due to the Covid 19 have been cleared, the usual delay is still there when releasing the containers.
“We have been talking about this issue for years but the problem remains the same. This delay is not because of Covid 19,” Abdeen has added.
The Colombo Port is packed with over 40,000 containers after the Covid 19 crisis disrupted economic activities in April, but three container terminals at the Port have been operating throughout the crisis at full capacity.
However, vessel calls have started to decrease.
With lockdown restrictions being eased by the Government on 11 May, the shipyard, which had been operating at a 20-30% capacity, providing only essential repair services and completing vessels undergoing repairs in the yard, is now returning to normal levels.