SHIPPING AGENCY BUSINESS
Shipping Agency business in Sri Lanka has become very competitive. With liberalization of shipping in 1990/1991 many new lines made their entry. These lines were represented by new shipping agencies in view of conflicts of interest with lines represented by old agencies. Therefore, the history of such agencies did not play an important role, what mattered and was of interest to Principals were the experienced staff such agencies employed.
Today, shippers to a great extent allocate their cargoes to lines on a personal level. Fixed day calls, transit times are now given second place . What is important is the freight rate and the contact you maintain with them.
The Ministry of Shipping is the main policing Authority of the shipping industry. It also acts as the licensing Authority for shipping agencies in Sri Lanka. Directives to the other controlling bodies such as the, Central Freight Bureau and the Exchange Control continue to be issued through the Ministry of Shipping
MARKET REVIEW
Since 1977 there has been a shift in the Government’s Economic Policy direction from that of an inward looking protectionist orientation to that of an outward looking free market economy. Successive governments in Sri Lanka have since accepted this as most suitable for the rapid economic development of the country. In this context the private sector has been accorded a prime role in the development of the economy and various incentives have been granted to encourage private sector growth
The last few years have also witnessed a shift in the structure of production – away from agriculture and towards industry and services
FEEDER SERVICES
Container Feeder Services is an extension of the shipping services of international Container Carriers to ports which they omit for economic or geographical reasons and to out ports which could not be reached by large container ships.
Feeder ships are therefore an integral part of the chain of transportation or intermodal movement of goods between shipper and receiver.
The actual rates are confidential and vary from operator to operator and are negotiable depending on volumes and frequency of shipments. All rates are generally quoted on FIO Basis.
HRC INDISRI U K Ltd as a feeder operator having services from the Indian port of Navashiva to Shanghai, including the way ports of Colombo, Singapore, Hong Kong, Busan and any other Intra Asian/Arabian Gulf Ports to Colombo at very competitive rates
THE MAIN FEEDER OPERATORS AT CMB
- Bengal Tiger Line
- HRC Shipping Ltd
- Intergrated Container Feeder Services
- Orient Express Line
- Sea Services (Pvt) Ltd
- Samudera Shipping (Pvt) Ltd
- X- Press Container Lines
TRANSHIPMENT
The Port of Colombo, by virtue of it’s locational advantage has developed into a major transhipment base, handling cargo for other countries in the region. Also optimum port conditions, up-to-date equipment and facilities, efficiency, security and safety of cargo make the Port of Colombo the first choice of ship operators engaged in regional transhipment. Colombo offers excellent facilities to operate feeder services to serve the ports which are off the main trunk routes.
All transshipment cargo either in break bulk or in containers are provided 21 days rent free facilities to promote the trade. Transhipment traffic through Colombo has increased progressively with the coming into operation of purpose built terminals and the installation of specialized equipment and expansion of back up facilities
INLAND CONTAINER DEPOTS
In Colombo there are ample inland container depots offering services. The depots are fully geared to handle the entire functions of a container depot. In addition to the normal functions of storage, repair de-mounting, mounting, CFS operations are also undertaken.
It is pertinent to mention that the depot tariff is formulated by the Association of Container Terminal & Depot Operators (ACTDO). However we wish to mention that we are more than confident of securing a substantial, reduction in rates should we have the privilege of representing your esteemed company