MSC Maya becomes largest ever vessel to call Colombo

SLPA Managing Director H.D.A.S. Premachandra, Vessel Master Captain Dominico, MSC Lanka Director Rohan De Silva, CICT GM Commercial Tissa Wickramasinghe, MSC Lanka CFO Kelum Warnakulasooriya, CICT AGM Commercial Catriona Jayasundera, MSC Lanka Director Shehara Jayawardena and MSC Lanka Director Operations and Regional Operations Manager Shamal Perera

MSC Maya, the largest ever vessel to call Colombo, with a capacity of 19,224 TEUs, called at the Colombo International Container Terminal (CICT) of the Port of Colombo recently. 

To commemorate the maiden call of the vessel at the Port of Colombo, plaque exchanges took place on board the vessel between the port, local agents and the captain of the vessel. 

Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) Managing Director H.D.A.S. Premachandra and SLPA Senior Deputy Harbour Master Captain A. Hewavitharana exchanged plaques with the captain of the vessel and MSC Lanka (Pvt.) Limited on behalf of the SLPA. 

MSC Geneva Director Operations and Regional Operation Manager Shamal Perera said that MSC Maya is the world’s largest container ship, which is now calling the Port of Colombo under SWAN service. 
“There will be six more similar class ships to call Colombo in the near future under the same service. MSC Reef, MSC ZOE, MSC Jade, MSC Mirja, MSC Ditte, MSC Elonane - all 19,224 TEUs in capacity - will be calling Colombo. We are proud to be part of the MSC family, the second largest shipping line in the world. It is always keen on strategic changes and added Colombo to its service fleet, which has the world’s largest ships,” he said.    

Further expressing views he said that it is proved that the Port of Colombo is par with major hub ports in the world which can handle the world’s largest container ships.
“I must thank the management and staff of the SLPA for their highest support extended to MSC,” he added.  

Perera also thanked the management and staff of the CICT and China Merchant Port Holding Co Ltd for building deep water terminals on fast-track and providing world-class facilities in the Port of Colombo, where at present, MSC and other shipping lines can plan the largest container vessels to call Colombo, benefitting the customers in Sri Lanka and in the entire region.  

The senior officials of the SLPA including Director Security Major Gen. Nissanka Wijesinghe, Chief Manager Container Operations I.K. Ghanathilake, Chief Manager Marketing and Business Development and Communication and Public Relations Upul Jayatissa and Senior Deputy Harbour Master Captain A. Hewavitharana also attended the occasion.