Fully Fledged Boat Complex in Beruwala with a Seven Star Hotel, Museum, Marina & Aquarium under Evaluation

21st March 2011, www.dailynews.lk, By Sanjeevi Jayasuriya

The Fisheries Ministry has been in contact with potential investors to start building the proposed boat complex in Beruwala and evaluating the proposals at present. This complex will be built at a substantial investment, housing a seven star hotel, museum, marina and an aquarium and many more.

This would be a tourist promotion venue where high spenders could be attracted, Boat Building Technology Improvement Institute Managing Director Gamini B Herath told Daily News Business.

The Galle Port development will attract small yachts and will bring in more business from yacht community. With the easing of global recession, there will be substantial growth in this industry.

Sri Lanka should be ready with these services to capture market opportunities where countries such as Australia, New Zealand and Singapore looking at new destinations.

The local boat building industry has been recording regular growth since 2008 while 2010 was an exceptional year for the industry earning an export revenue of Rs 7 billion. As the industry is performing well at present it is estimated that the 2011 revenue would surpass the 2010 figure.

The industry is focusing on new markets and will be looking at countries in the Gulf region and Africa, especially Nigeria and Djibouti. These are lucrative markets and we are concentrating on capturing a bigger share, he said.

“We need to sustain the local boat building industry as it plays a vital role in revenue generation. The market situation is improving and we are confident that better performance in the industry could be seen in coming years,” Herath said.

The industry will also focus on providing human resource training to the personnel of the Dubai Boat building industry.

The recently held Dubai Boat Show was beneficial to Sri Lanka as the country showcased its capabilities at a national pavilion for the first time. There was a lot of enthusiasm among the potential buyers and they showed keenness to source from our country, he said.

“We have yet to estimate how much orders could be secured through this boat show and hopefully expect a positive outcome. A few reputed manufacturers in Dubai mainly interested in super mega yatchs have sought possibilities to train their personnel through Sri Lankan experts. This is a rewarding opportunity for the local boat building industry,” he said.

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• Sri Lanka Boatyard Solas Marine Delivers Trawler for Africa. Plans to Supply Patrol Boats to Indian Navy

Sri Lanka Boatyard Solas Marine Delivers Trawler for Africa. Plans to Supply Patrol Boats to Indian Navy

13th December 2010, /www.lankabusinessonline.com

A Sri Lankan boat yard taken over and revived by Dubai-based interests delivered a trawler for an African client last week and plans to meet Indian navy requirements for small patrol boats, officials said.

Solas Marine Lanka is part of Solas Marine Services group, a Dubai-based multinational providing services to the marine and petroleum industry.

The yard last week delivered a 19-metre trawler with a 29-tonne fish hold, on-board ice machine and deck crane for a customer in the Comoros Islands.

The boat, costing 80 million rupees, took six months to build at the yard located on the banks of the Hamilton Canal at Wattala, north of Colombo, leading from the estuary of the Kelani river. It was fitted out at a nearby fisheries harbour.

Sri Lanka is trying to encourage boat building for export markets for both the fishing and tourism industries following the end of its 30-year ethnic war in May 2009.

Solas entered Sri Lanka by taking over the existing business of boat builder Blue Star Marine two years ago and refitted with more equipment like cranes and began commercial operations in April 2010.

"We build mainly for the export market," a senior company official said.

"Our main business is supplying boats to the Indian navy and coast guard," a company official said.

The yard also builds pleasure craft for the Maldives.

Sri Lanka Boat Building Sets a Target of Rs 8bn

09th November 2010, www.dailynews.lk, By Sanjeevi Jayasuriya

Sri Lanka’s boat building industry is making steady progress and exports are on the increase. The industry is expected to generate Rs eight billion revenue this year. The industry recorded Rs 6 billion in foreign exchange last year and has made remarkable growth since 2008, Boat Building Technology Improvement Institute Managing Director Gamini B. Herath told Daily News Business.

“The industry is focusing on new markets and will be looking at countries in the Gulf region and Africa, especially Nigeria and Djibouti. These are lucrative markets and we concentrate on capturing a bigger share,” he said.

The country targets Dubai International boat show scheduled to be held early next year to capture market opportunities. “We need to sustain our local boating industry as it plays a vital role in revenue generation. The market situation is improving and we are confident that better performance in the industry could be seen in coming years,” Herath said.

A Chinese investor is keen on investing in the proposed boating complex in Beruwela where the Government is currently accepting proposals from interested parties. The boating complex will be set up in Beruwela with an investment of US $ 30 million.

The complex will house a boat yard, boat exhibition centre, aquarium, marina, maritime museum, centre for boat building and technology training, children’s park and shopping centre. The country needs to have boat parks to facilitate boat operations.

There are no boat parks in the country except in the inlands. We need few boat parks immediately as demand for fisheries industry is increasing with the relaxation of restrictions.

It is also important to allow higher horse power engine boats for the industry development, Herath said.

The country is a major supplier of fishing vessels, passenger and rescue boats and ambulances for countries in the region such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Mauritius, Seychells and Maldives.