Japan’s ‘K’ Line resumed transhipment operations from the Hambantota port last Friday. A car carrier operated by the shipping line docked at the port on Friday night, K Lines’ shipping agents in Colombo said.
“The car carrier MV Van Cherry, carrying 300 vehicles from Japan for the domestic market, entered the port around 7 p.m. on Friday. It will leave for Oman after unloading the vehicles,” said Tressel G. de Silva, General Manager of ABC Shipping, the local agents for ‘K’ Line.
Earlier ‘K’ Line threatened to suspend their ships coming to Hambantota after a protest by the dock workers prevented its car carrier ‘Hyperion Highway’ from sailing out of the port.
The government has now ensured better security for international carriers docking at Hambantota port and the Sri Lanka Navy has been deployed to handle operations at the port.
Deputy Minister of Public Enterprise Development, Eran Wickramaratne said last week that the dockers’ protest had damaged investor confidence in the country.
The government said that the local shipping agent of ‘Hyperion Highway’ had to incur a total demurrage of USD 400,000 for the four days when the ship could not carry out its operations due to the protest by port employees.
Local agents, ABC Shipping have sent a letter of protest to the Sri Lanka Ports Authority on its incurring USD 400,000 in demurrage. - CJ