Chinese Military Ship Leaves Sri Lanka After Controversial Visit
A Chinese military survey ship that docked at Sri Lanka's Chinese-built port of Hambantota despite opposition from neighboring India left on Monday after a week-long stay, the port company told Reuters.Analysts say the Yuan Wang 5 is among a group of Chinese ships that monitor satellite, rocket and intercontinental ballistic missile launches. India, Sri Lanka's northern neighbor, fears China could use the port as a military base.Sri Lanka, facing its worst economic crisis in decades and in need of financial support from both China and India, had delayed the ship's arrival after India raised its concerns but gave in to Chinese demands later.The ship has now left the southern Sri Lankan port…
Sri Lankan Fishermen 'Helpless' After Ship Sinking Leads to Fishing Ban
Sri Lankan fishermen say they feel helpless after a cargo ship carrying tonnes of chemicals and plastics caught fire and later sank, resulting in a ban on fishing along an 80 km (50 mile) stretch of the island nation's west coast.The Singapore-registered MV X-Press Pearl, carrying 1,486 containers, including 25 tonnes of nitric acid along with other chemicals and cosmetics, was anchored offshore when a fire erupted after an explosion on May 20.Flaming containers filled with billions…
Sri Lanka in China Port Deal
Sri Lanka’s government on Saturday signed a long-delayed agreement to sell a 70% stake in a USD 1.5-billion port to China in a bid to recover from the heavy burden of repaying a Chinese loan obtained to build the facility, report local media. After 10 years of negotiations, China Merchants Port Holdings has signed the agreement with the Sri Lanka Ports Authority to develop the Hambantota Port in southern Sri Lanka. According to the agreement, which is described as "a win-win situation for both countries". the Chinese firm will run the workings of the newly constructed port over a 99-year lease. The Port of Hambantota is located on the…
Full-term Certificates for “MV. Ceylon Breeze” from DNV GL
DNV GL has added to its registry as of March 2016 a new vessel built for Ceylon Shipping Corporation (CSC), a fully Sri Lanka Government-owned commercial enterprise and company with a 45-year-long tradition in shipping. Bulk carrier “Ceylon Breeze” built at the AVIC Weihai Shipyard Co, Ltd China will be flying the Sri Lanka Flag, with home port Colombo and is the first of two sister vessels having a registered length of 199 metres and displacement of 63,323 DWT, the CSC said in a media announcement. According to a report in The Sunday Times Sri Lanka, the vessel was built to DNV GL Class Rules under close supervision of CSC’s own supervisors and the DNV GL consultants. Recently the full-term certificates of MV.
Sri Lanka joins CSI
Sri Lanka has signed an agreement to join the Container Security Initiative (CSI). Only two weeks ago, the Department of Homeland Security announced to beginning of Phase II of CSI, expanding the program to more than just the top 20 foreign container ports. The agreement marks the first CSI signing since Tom Ridge, Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and CBP Commissioner Bonner announced the launch of Phase 2 of CSI just two weeks ago. As part of the CSI program, CBP will deploy a team of officers to the port of Colombo to work with host government personnel to target high-risk cargo containers destined for the United States. Officials of the Sri Lanka government are responsible for screening any container identified jointly with CBP officers as a potential terrorist risk.
