Global pandemic conditions bring out the best in shipyards innovative strategies to counter difficult times. Since its establishment in 1974 marking its 46th Anniversary in 2020, Colombo Dockyard has witnessed recessions, boom times and natural disasters amongst which this COVID 19 pandemic driven lockdown situation is unique and unprecedented, which requires innovative and smart approaches to counter these challenges successfully.
Sri Lankan government’s aggressive drive to combat the COVID 19 pandemic from mid-march has been effective, paving the way for relaxing the lockdown on 11th May 2020. The Government of Sri Lanka appointed COVID 19 Taskforce had declared all Port related activities as essential services, thus giving the shipyard to continue its operations under its guidelines. Over the lockdown period, the shipyard has been operating at 20~30% capacity providing essential repair services, completing the vessels undergoing repairs in the yard, meeting the client’s requirements safely.
In Colombo Dockyard, we focus on organising the work of our shipyard team and subcontractors in such a way that it is carried out in the safest possible way, in keeping in line with the Government COVID 19 Taskforce guidelines. A shift system has been adopted to spread out the number of workers at the site at any given time while gaining higher productivity levels, maintaining the health guideline instructions.
The shipyard operations have stepped up to planned New-Normal operational levels, under the in~house campaign titled “ Revival” under the visionary leadership of Mr Hideki Tanaka, Chairman, Mr D V Abeysinghe, Managing Director and Mr Benny Fernando, Chief Operating Officer. We are pleased to place on record that, we have started repairs on two bulk carriers successfully (17th of May), managing to clear the mandatory health clearances smoothly, with no berthing delays (waiting for quarantine etc) on the arrival schedule of the vessels. The vessels were berthed on arrival. This has been possible on account of the professional guidance given the Port Health Officials and the Harbour Master.
In solidarity of the efforts, Colombo Dockyard actively contributed Five Million Rupees to the national COVID task force fund.
The Shipyard operates jointly in Collaboration with Onomichi Dockyard Co. Ltd., Japan since 1993, providing the best Japanese-Sri Lankan expertise and the location and economic convenience of Colombo. The shipyard is ready to serve the emerging needs of the market, in this post COVID challenging times.
