Colombo International Container Terminals (CICT) has been presented with a ‘Highly Commended’ certificate in the ‘Port Operator’ category at the prestigious Lloyd’s List Middle East and Indian Subcontinent Awards for 2016.

The accolade recognises the view of the panel of judges that the CICT-managed Colombo South Terminal of the Port of Colombo “is a Terminal that demonstrates constant innovation and commitment” and that “its entry nomination highlighted many things to come that will make this a certain winner in the future.”

The Lloyds List Highly Commenced certificate was presented at an awards presentation gala in Dubai, at which CICT was represented by the company’s General Manager – Commercial & Marketing Mr Tissa Wickramasinghe.

CICT was one of seven port operators in the Middle East and Indian Subcontinent region shortlisted for the Highly Commended certificate and was, at three and a half years, the youngest company by far among the contenders who were Abu Dhabi Container Terminals, Aqaba Container Terminals, DP World UAE Region, Gulftainer, Hutchinson Port and Vizaq General Cargo Berth.

This was the second occasion this year that CICT has figured in an award presented by Lloyds List. In September, CICT’s parent company China Merchants Port Holdings (CMPH) was adjudged Port Operator of the Year at the Lloyd’s List 2016 Global Awards presented in London, with the judges citing the development of Colombo into a leading transhipment hub in South Asia as one of the factors in their choice of the winner.

“CICT’s focus is entirely on the development of the Port of Colombo into a leader in the region, through enhanced capacity, greater efficiency, innovation and eco-friendly operations,” the company’s CEO Mr Ray Ren said. “We are therefore very pleased with this award because it recognises our contribution to the Port of Colombo and to the industry.”

The Colombo South Terminal of the Port of Colombo is the first and currently the only deep water terminal in South Asia equipped with facilities to handle the largest vessels afloat. The commencement of CICT’s operations in July 2013 is widely credited as the factor in the Port of Colombo achieving double digit growth in 2014 after a lapse of over ten years.

CICT ended 2015 with an impressive 1.561 million TEUs, with the ULCC (Ultra Large Container Carrier) and VLCC (Very Large Container Carrier) segments making a 67% contribution to that volume. The benefit of these mega carriers calling at the port cascades down to the other terminals by reinforcing Colombo’s status as major transhipment hub.

In just three years of operation, CICT has brought some of the largest vessels plying the Asia-Europe routes to Colombo. Of these, MSC Maya at 19,224 TEU the world’s largest container vessel, the MV Mogens Maersk (18,300 TEU), MSC New York (16,652 TEU), CMA CGM Marco Polo (16,020 TEU), YML YM Wondrous, Edith Maersk and EMC Thalassa Hellas (each 14,000 plus TEUs) and their sister vessels are now regular callers at CICT.