Sri Lanka positions itself as lay-up centre

Technorati Tags: Baltic Dry Index,Baltic Dry Indices,Ship Chartering,Shipchartering,Voyage Fixtures,Time Charter Fixtures,Panamax,Capesize,Handymax,Handysize,Supramax,Dry Cargo Fixtures,Bulk Cargo Fixtures,Baltic Exchange,Freight Review,Maritime Baltic Index,TNT Freight Review,Sri Lanka Lay up,ship Demolition,Sri Lanka Demolition,Safe Anchorage

Colombo: Sri Lanka is trying to position itself to attract the growing ship lay-up business triggered by the global economic slump and has earmarked safe anchorages for vessels, a senior Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA).
A Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) official told local media that the SLPA has “clearance from the security officials now to lay up vessels in safe anchorages outside Colombo harbour.”
“We have been having several requests from shipping lines on the possibility of laying up their ships in our anchorages,” said SLPA managing director Nihal Keppetipola.
The SLPA is also trying to obtain clearance for the eastern Sri Lankan port of Trincomalee to be another location for ship lay-ups. [07/05/09]