Colombo Dockyard Celebrates 20 Years of Partnership that Integrates Japanese Values & Western Capitalistic Ideals

30th March 2013, www.island.lk, By Steve A Morrell

Colombo Dockyard provides a unique platform to display Sri Lanka to the world stage, says Mangala Yapa, the company’s MD/CEO.

From small beginnings in 1974, Colombo Dockyard has grown in stature and prominence to make a significant contribution to the national economy, he said at the company’s 20th anniversary celebrations.

"Our contribution is such that we earn foreign exchange in ship building and sea craft. We accept ship building orders from overseas. All this means we earn foreign exchange for the Sri Lankan government", he said.

The chief guest was Minister of Economic Development, Basil Rajapaksa.

Yapa said that since 1974, about 40 years ago, when the company was formed, their decision to forge a partnership with Onomichi Dockyard Company Limited of Japan on or about 1993 augured well. Onomichi’s decision was momentous because it came at a time the Colombo Dockyard was exploring stability and structure.

He said their inspired leadership brought about the stability that was needed to ensure positive progress and put in place abiding Japanese standards that have proved to an invaluable asset to the progress of the company.

"We did not seek publicity for the work we did. But, this year, it is 20 years since our joint collaboration with Onomichi, the occasion is right to project ourselves in a more public stance", the MD/CEO said.

"Our forte has always been ship building and ship repair services. We are proud to have nurtured this special trait from its infancy", Yapa stressed.

Akihiko Nakauchi, Chairman, Onomichi Dockyard Japan, recalled that it was a tactical move on the part of the Japanese in 1993 and it was a defining moment that Colombo Dockyard and Onomichi Dockyard collaborated to form the company. More so, that both countries had special friendly ties that further cemented this partnership.

"In the recent past, we have been successful in carving out certain niche markets. Our expertise is sought after across the globe particularly in the manufacture of sophisticated Off Shore Vessels.’, Nakauchi said.

Special mention was made of the first Managing Director, Ragunathan, who took office in 1974 and also A. K. Diyabalanage, Lal Dassanayake and Valentine Silva, who had contributed significantly to the progress of the Colombo Dockyard.

According to the 20th anniversary publication, initial plans were drawn up when Sir John Kotelawala was Minister of Communication and Works during the 1936 – 1947 era. Sir. Andrew Caldecott was Governor at the time. It was reported the Minister took a personal interest in this project.

Yapa further said "My vision for the future would be a corporate value culture of this nature and to propel Colombo Dockyard to the pinnacle of global marine services".

Related Info :

• Sri Lanka Colombo Dockyard Handles two LPG Carrier Ships from India

• Colombo Dockyard to Invest in Other Ports in Sri Lanka. Delivers $26mn Platform ROV Support Vessel Greatship Rohini to Fugro Brazil

• Colombo Dockyard Delivers 2nd Passenger Vessel to Administration of Union Territories of Lakshadweep, India

Sri Lanka Colombo Dockyard Handles two LPG Carrier Ships from India

08th April 2011, www.dailynews.lk, By Ramani Kangaraarachchi

The Colombo Dockyard undertook to handle two LPG carriers which will generate around US$ 1.6 million to the country, Colombo Dockyard Managing Director Mangala Yapa told Daily News Business.

The Shipping Corporation of India, owned LPG carriers Nanga Parbat (17,601DWT) and Anapurna (17,601DWT) sister ships called in for lay up and dry docking repairs during February and March 2011 respectively.

Yapa said Colombo has been attracting many types of callers, and the Tanker owner, managers have been regular visitors who take advantage of the excellent facilities available for tanker owners in this region.

He said that these sophisticated tankers were accommodated in 125,000 DWT in for major dry docking related repairs.

Yard geared cryogenic workshops necessary to handle the work on these LPG carriers.

The Yard’s safety on this specialised area was refreshed, specially focusing the project team being inducted to tanker safety training workshop in order all areas are covered.

The work scope handled on both of the vessels consisted of routine dry docking related repairs, steel renewal ,Cargo and booster pumps overhauling, cargo tank relief valves overhauling, cargo tank level gauges calibration and cargo condensers re-tubing. The main engine overhauling, various pumps main and auxiliary boilers and special surveyor was attended.

Two owner’s representatives from Shipping Corporation of India, Sishir Kumar and Anil K Sharma were present.

The repairs were carried out meeting the stringent classification society requirements of Lloyds Register of Shipping and Indian Register of shipping.

The husbanding work was attended to by Asha Agencies Ltd.

Image: Vessel MT Nanga Parbat accommodated in the Colombo Dockyard’s 125,000 dwt drydock No. 04 during her repair call.

Related Info :

• Colombo Dockyard to Invest in Other Ports in Sri Lanka. Delivers $26mn Platform ROV Support Vessel Greatship Rohini to Fugro Brazil

• Sri Lanka Dockyard Wins Contract for Two Multipurpose Platform Supply Vessels (MPSVs) for Greatship Global Offshore Services of Singapore

Colombo Dockyard to Invest in Other Ports in Sri Lanka. Delivers $26mn Platform ROV Support Vessel Greatship Rohini to Fugro Brazil

10th February 2011, www.dailynews.lk, By Harshini Perera

Ship building is a volatile industry but there is an optimistic sentiment about the industry in the future.

Colombo Dockyard PLC will invest in expanding to other ports in the country, Colombo Dockyard PLC Chairman, Akihiko Nakauchi told Daily News Business. He was speaking after christening a newly built ship Greatship Rohini yesterday.

There will be new investments forwarded in line of machines, cranes and equipment in the future such as metal cutting machines and compressors in 2012.

The other ports in the country too should be equipped with sufficient latest facilities for the Dockyard to establish.

“Middle East, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Indonesia and Vietnam are some of our competitors.

Colombo Dockyard PLC will be concentrating on servicing clients from Europe and the Middle East in the future,” the Chairman said. “Changes in people’s attitudes, approaches to business and productivity has to be addressed in developing the ship building industry in the country.

Without implementing these components adding infrastructure will not create a great economy. It proves that an individual company such as Colombo Dockyard PLC can reach international standards in catering to the international market as we have done today,” Colombo Dockyard PLC Managing Director and CEO Mangala P B Yapa said.

The vessel, Greatship Rohini can be used for oil exploration in the deep sea and the vessel is enabled to perform multi-tasks such as welding, opening of valves and repairs in Fugro Brazil, an oil and gas exploration company. The vessel will directly sail to Brazil next week for this purpose.

The value of the vessel is around US $ 26 million and the total aggregated value of the order Greatship Group of Companies placed with Dockyard is closely US $ 240 million.

A total of eleven vessels are to be delivered by Colombo Dockyard PLC under the agreement with Greatship Group of Companies. “Another vessel enabled with Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) will be completed at early March and two 80 tonne anchor handlers are yet to be delivered to Greatship Group of Companies.

The Greatship Anjalee, is the first creation by Colombo Dockyard PLC and eleven vessels will be completed at the end of the agreement. It is the largest order given by the Greatship Building Company for a single company,” Yapa said.

There will be many opportunities for Colombo Dockyard PLC from Brazil to use Sri Lankan made vessels for oil exploration in the future as well. Brazil is one of the best deep water oil exploration markets with latest technological equipment. Colombo Dockyard PLC expects to bring in more investments to Sri Lanka on sophisticated vessels in the future.

Image: Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa is directed by Dockyard PLC Managing Director and CEO Mangala P B Yapa to the seventh vessel built by Colombo Dockyard. The completed ship was christened Greatship Rohini. Picture by Sumanachandra Ariyawansa.

Related Info :
• Sri Lanka Dockyard Wins Contract for Two Multipurpose Platform Supply Vessels (MPSVs) for Greatship Global Offshore Services of Singapore

• Colombo Dockyard Delivers 2nd Passenger Vessel to Administration of Union Territories of Lakshadweep, India

Colombo Dockyard Delivers 2nd Passenger Vessel to Administration of Union Territories of Lakshadweep, India

29th October 2010, www.lankabusinessonline.com

Sri Lanka's Colombo Dockyard delivered the second of a pair of passenger vessels for an Indian customer but warned profitability could dip this year owing to the effects of recession and growing competition.

Managing director Mangala Yapa said the yard's order book for new buildings was full but it faced tough competition especially from Chinese yards in the repair business.

Yapa said he was confident the yard would do well this year too having had sales of 12 billion rupees and profits of two billion last year.

"Now we're experiencing tough competition from Chinese yards," he said in a speech to flag off the new vessel.

"There could be some drop in profitability because of the competitive nature of the market."

The yard , which books profits on vessel delivery, Thursday delivered the second of a pair of passenger craft for India's Lakshadweep islands.

The vessel, which can carry 250 passengers and 100 tonnes of cargo, was built for the Administration of Union Territories of Lakshadweep and is named Lakshadweep Sea.

She set sail from Colombo port to join her sister vessel, Arabian Sea, which was delivered in January 2010 and will operate between the Indian mainland ports like Cochin and the Lakshadweep island, as well as in the inter-island routes.

Colombo Dockyard said the vessels were the biggest hulls built by the yard and are meant for operation in all weathers.

Passengers have different categories of accommodation on the vessels, with two VIP cabins, 10 first class, 40 second class and 200 normal class passenger transportation facilities. All passenger compartments are fully air conditioned using an air conditioning system.

Yapa said that peace has given a fillip to the yard's marketing efforts and helped win new customers.

"The emergence of peace and stability has helped us expand our marketing activities."

The yard this signed signed a deal to build two offshore oil platform supply vessels for a Singapore customer.

"In ship repair too we were able to attract many new clients particularly from Europe and the Far East who had been reluctant to come to Colombo earlier because of the war."

The island's 30-year ethnic war ended in May 2009 leading to the removal of marine war-risk insurance advisories and faster economic growth.

Related Info:
Sri Lanka Dockyard Wins Contract for Two Multipurpose Platform Supply Vessels (MPSVs) for Greatship Global Offshore Services of Singapore

Sri Lanka's Colombo Dockyard Delivers Supply Vessel to Singapore's Greatship Global Offshore Services

Sri Lanka's Colombo Dockyard Delivers Supply Vessel to Singapore's Greatship Global Offshore Services

31st August 2010, www.lankabusinessonline.com

Sri Lanka's Colombo Dockyard has delivered the second of a series of four Multipurpose Platform Supply Vessels (MPSV) for Singapore's Greatship Global Offshore Services, a statement said.

The delivered vessel, with a 3,200-tonne deadweight capacity, was designed by Seatech Solutions International of Singapore in consultation with the owner and the builder, Colombo Dockyard.

"The role of the vessel is to support offshore oil and gas fields on a twenty-four hour per day basis," said the yard, which books profits on delivery of vessels and is a unit of Japan's Onomichi Dockyard Company.

"The vessel is built for operation in un-restricted waters and is capable of undertaking multi-purpose roles such as transportation of pipes, fresh water, diesel, methanol, bulk cement, stores, equipment, and moving men and materials between platforms and shore."

The vessel has an endurance of about 35 days and a cruising range of about 9,200 nautical miles.

The vessel has a larger accommodation area for 50 persons as against the 24 persons in the previous Anchor Handling Tug Supply Vessels built by Colombo Dockyard.

"Over the past few years, Colombo Dockyard operating in joint collaboration with Onomichi Dockyard Company has accumulated a wealth of experience in building vessels for the offshore sector requirements," the statement said.

"(It) is now well-experienced and geared to meet any kind of requirement that may arise in the offshore oil exploration activities being carried out in the Sri Lankan waters."

Colombo Dockyard has said it will deliver a total six vessels this year and will focus more on offshore work with the search for oil off the island's north-west coast.

Sri Lanka's Colombo Dockyard Delivers First of Four Multipurpose Platform Supply Vessels to Singapore

07th April 2010, www.lankabusinessonline.com

Sri Lanka's Colombo Dockyard, a listed ship builder, said it was getting ready to deliver the first of a series of four Multipurpose Platform Supply Vessels for a Singaporean client.
 
The yard, which is majority owned by Japan's Onomichi Dockyard, said in a statement it is building four 78-metre Multipurpose Platform Supply Vessels for Greatship Global Offshore Services of Singapore.

The vessel is to support offshore oil and gas fields on a twenty-four hours a day basis and has an endurance of about 35 days and a cruising range of about 9200 nautical miles.

"The vessel is capable of multi-purpose roles such as transportation of pipes, fresh water, diesel oil, bulk cement, stores, equipment, moving men, materials between platforms and shore, and also fire fighting."

The vessel was designed by ship design firm Seatech Solutions International (S) of Singapore in consultation with the owner and the builder, Colombo Dockyard.

"Over the past few years, Colombo Dockyard has accumulated a wealth of experience in building vessels for the offshore sector requirement," the statement said.

"(It) is now well geared to meet any kind of requirement that may arise in the offshore oil exploration activities being carried out in the Sri Lankan waters and offer its expert assistance in marine engineering."

Colombo Dockyard is set to deliver six vessels this year, including the Multi Purpose Platform Supply Vessels and a passenger vessel for the Indian government for use in its Lakshadweep island territories.

Colombo Dockyard Attracts European Ship Repairs. Cardiff Marine Inc Tanker Delos Calls in for Collision Repairs

29th March 2010, www.dailynews.lk

Cardiff Marine Inc. Greece owned Motor Tanker Delos called in with collision damages to her shipside as the tanker suffered damage while at Chittagong anchorage. The owners had decided to place the vessel in Colombo for permanent repairs.

Colombo's strategic location and the reputation as a reliable service provider attracted the Cardiff Marine Inc., to utilize Colombo Dockyard facilities for this damage repairs. Cardiff Marine Inc., is a well reputed ship owner/Manager managing a fleet of vessels in excess of six million deadweight. The peaceful conditions prevailing in the country has resulted in major European fleet owners looking at Colombo for their repair requirements, generating much needed foreign revenue for the country.

The tanker Delos initially planned to arrive in Colombo in February finally arrived in Colombo on February 17. Due to her shifted arrival, the initially allocated yard slot was not available as the next planned tanker had already arrived at the repair berth. The only available option was to secure another suitable berth to accommodate the vessel and immediate action was taken to request assistance from the local agents GAC Shipping Ltd. The local agents secured a suitable berth for this massive tanker (LOA 183.00 Meters/Beam 32.00 Meters).

The Shipyard mobilized the repair team under the project leadership of Ship Manager Dhammika Dissanayake, with coordinated support from steel department Steel engineer Avantha Gunathilake and his team to complete the job efficiently. As the job was carried out at the port berth, all required services had to be arranged with meticulous planning and coordination.

Colombo Dockyard Lays Keel for 4th Indian Vessel

07th November 2009, www.lankabusinessonline.com

Sri Lankan shipyard Colombo Dockyard said it has laid the keel for construction of the fourth Multipurpose Platform Supply Vessel for Greatship India.

The vessel is meant to support the offshore oil and gas industry, the yard said in a statement.

The occasion was attended by the owner’s representatives, officials from vessel classification societies and other management and project team members.

The Multipurpose Platform Supply Vessels for Greatship India are designed by Seatech Solutions International of Singapore in consultation with the owners and the builder, Colombo Dockyard.

The vessel, scheduled to be delivered by mid-December 2010, can accommodate 50 people.

The vessels can undertake multi-purpose roles such as transportation of pipes, fresh water, diesel oil, bulk cement, stores, equipment, moving men and materials between platforms and shore, and also engage in fire fighting.

The yard has said its order book stands confirmed without any cancellations enabling it to maintain its current building momentum till the end of 2010.

Sri Lanka Dockyard Goes for Heavy Engineering Work

03rd November 2009, www.lankabusinessonline.com

Colombo Dockyard, a Sri Lankan shipbuilder, said it was eying more work for its heavy engineering division in the island as well as the south Asian region. The company said in a statement its subsidiary, Dockyard General Engineering Services (DGES), had changed its logo as it seeks to emerge as a big player in the fields of civil, mechanical and electrical engineering.

Its services range from designing to commissioning for petrochemical, infrastructure development, power, and irrigation projects.

"While Colombo Dockyard continues business activities in ship repairing, shipbuilding, offshore engineering mainly for an international clientele, DGES is concentrating on heavy engineering, services and maintenance sectors."

Company officials said more heavy engineering work is expected with Sri Lanka's efforts to rebuild infrastructure damaged by war and an economic revival anticipated with the end of the conflict.

Government forces defeated Tamil Tiger separatists in May ending 30 years of war.

Colombo Dockyard, a unit of Japan's Onomichi Dockyard, also said a new chairman Akihiko Nakauchi, an engineer, has taken over from former chairman Shinichi Tatabe who retired.

Nakauchi has spent 38 years at Mitsui Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. of Japan having joined it as a fabrication engineer in 1971.

He has experience in offshore projects in the North Sea as well as in bridge building.