December 9, 2020: It is reported that the fifth phase of the expansion process for the Jaya Container Terminal (JCT) has begun and the construction work will take 20 months to reach completion. What is JCT 5?
The Jaya Container Terminal has four berths to accommodate four ships simultaneously, named JCT 1 to JCT 4, and a further extension of the quay wall by 120 meters is termed JCT 5.
Upon the completion of this project around July 2022, there will be on 800-metre-long straight quay wall, with an alongside water depth of 15 meters, at JCT. This will permit berthing of two long container ships, that are calling in Colombo, but with the restriction of 14.2meters draft, whereas the present straight length of 660 meters bar the accommodation of two mega ships simultaneously. This is the only gain as a result of this expansion, of course not forgetting the additional yard area gained for stacking of containers.
Ships with draft of over 14.2 meters have to be accommodated only in the South Harbour, where the water depth is 18 meters, and only the Colombo International Container Terminals (CICT) can operate them now. If the East Container Terminal (ECT) is operational, that berth, too, can accommodate these bigger ships. Last year, about 370 ships that could not berth at other terminals seem to have arrived in the South Harbour. Even under Corona interruptions, about 500 bigger ships could end up in the South Harbour. Consequently, the South Harbour container handling could reach 3.2 million TEUs and all this volume at CICT.
For the long-term success of the Ports Authority it is essential that they operate in the South Harbour with deep water depth, and not be complacent with JCT 5. JCT 5 is an intermediate solution to accommodate two longer ships in JCT, as explained above. But even this is available, after July 2022.
After the handling of a container ship, at ECT, in October this year, it is not known whether container handling is progressing at ECT. The Yahapalanaya government pathetically failed to commission the partly completed ECT berth, during their tenure, losing massive revenues. The ECT issue was brought to public attention, prior to the last general election, with trade union action by port employees paralyzing the Colombo Port.
In conclusion, it is observed that the JCT 5 project is only an interim arrangement to assist the Ports Authority, but the long-term vision has to be to assist the Ports Authority to operate a deep water terminal in the South Harbour and the immediate concern will be ECT.
Source: The Island Online
