Colombo's location makes Sri Lanka ideal as a regional container transshipment centre, says Stefaan Vermeire, director general of the International Container Security Organisation in Brussels.
"The coming of mega-ships of 13,500 TEU means the number of ports that can handle them will be few," Mr Vermeire told a seminar on Colombo's future.
Colombo meets super ship needs, he said, and could be like the hub at Malta, but on a much larger scale because of its advantage of having a hinterland that generates cargo, reported Lanka Business Online.
"Sri Lanka's position is crucial in terms of efficiency, especially fuel efficiency," he said.
The island nation's compliance with new global maritime security programmes led by the US, also means it can offer safe and fast transshipment services for cargo flowing from Asia to the US, he said.
Mr Vermeire also reminded listeners that Colombo has achieved ISPS, CSI and MPI certification. The International Ship and Port facility Security (ISPS) is an International Maritime Organisation code meant to improve port and ship security while the Container Security Initiative and the Megaport Initiative are US security programmes designed to enhance container security and prevent smuggling of nuclear bomb making material.
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