With new machinery, Sri Lanka’s Hambantota Port is increasing the number of containers it handles annually to one million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), and a feeder link with Colombo is about to be established. In addition to the two quay cranes and three rubber-tyred gantry cranes (RTGs) that are already there, the port has invested 41 million dollars in 13 new RTGs and 4 new quay cranes.
The island’s coastline shipping network will shortly be improved with the anticipated arrival of a feeder service between Hambantota and Colombo. In 2025–2026, Sri Lanka’s ports will have a combined capacity of 10 million TEUs.
On November 30, four quay cranes arrived at HIP aboard the MV De Qiang 66. With a load rating of 50 tons for single handling, 65 tons for tandem lifting, and 75 tons on the underhook beam, they have twin lifts and a 65-meter outreach. Twenty meters below rail and forty-two meters above rail are the lifting heights they offer.
On November 30, the rubber tire gantries reached Hambantota aboard the ship FENG HAI DA. They feature a lifting height of 01-over-05, a single handling capacity of 41 tons, and a span of 23.47 meters with a base distance of 6.9 meters.
To ensure maximum efficiency and safety, the quay cranes and RTG cranes are designed to comply with green port efforts and are equipped with automation systems and anti-collision technology. Three empty stackers and four reach stackers are already present in the port. In four months, the additional cranes should be operational, increasing the port’s annual capacity to one million TEUs.
