West Container terminal project
Colombo West International Terminal Pvt. Ltd. is a consortium comprising of India’s largest port operator, Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd; Sri Lanka’s leading enterprise, John Keells Holdings; and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority. The consortium is set to develop Colombo West International Terminal (CWIT) on a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis for a period of 35 years.
Port’s position as the primary hub in the region and is expected to elevate its ranking by two positions to 20th among the world’s top container terminals. It will also transform the port’s position in terms of global shipping connectivity, which is currently 12th globally. When commissioned, CWIT will be the largest and deepest container terminal in Sri Lanka. With a quay length of 1,400 meters and an alongside depth of 20 meters, CWIT will be equipped to handle Ultra Large Container Vessels with capacities of 24,000 TEUs. The new terminal’s annual cargo handling capacity is likely to exceed 3.2 Mn TEUs.
The construction work of the 350,000 m2 (86 Acres) container terminal platform on the reclaimed land has been awarded to Access Engineering PLC by Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd. This consists of major works such as excavation, leveling and compaction of the reclaimed land, sand filling, sub-base filling, cement-based macadam filling, manufacturing, and laying of interlocking blocks, concrete structures, laying of utility service lines, road works, construction of rail for gantry cranes, construction of steel structures, MEP works, etc.
East Container terminal project
Access Engineering PLC, the leading construction enterprise in a JV with its technical partner China Harbor Engineering, a world-renowned Marine Contractor has been awarded the contract to construct the East Container Terminal (ECT) of Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA).
The project was advertised for competitive bidding where a local company was required to be the majority shareholder of a proposed JV with the requirement of major Marine construction experience being contributed by the respective international partners. In this instance, AEL holds 51% of the JV and is set to gain technical know-how and experience in building large scale marine construction projects.
ECT is the second deep water terminal to be developed since the Colombo International Container Terminal (CICT) which started commercial operations in 2013. ECT begins commercial operations with the development of its first 600m of berthing capacity scheduled to be completed by May 2023 whilst the full terminal development up to 1320m is scheduled to be completed by end of 2024 allowing a 3M TEU throughput capacity when fully operational.
Access – CHEC JV (Private) Limited is a 51% owned entity of Access Engineering PLC. The Company was incorporated in FY 2021/22 for the purpose of undertaking the construction of the East Container Terminal (ECT) at the Port of Colombo – the second deep-water terminal to be developed since the Colombo International Container Terminal (CICT) and the largest contract to date awarded to a venture led by a local firm. Phase I of the project which commenced in early 2022, involves increasing the ECT’s birthing capacity to 600m, whilst the full terminal development up to 1320m will be undertaken in Phase II, allowing a 3M TEU throughput capacity when fully operational.
Design and Construction of Kapparatota Jetty
Under the guidance of Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development, the Government of Sri Lanka has accorded and funded the project with the vision to revitalize the fishery based livelihood of the communities in and around Weligama. The scope of the project entrusted to Access Engineering PLC included design and construction of 128 m long jetty on a pile foundation which extends from the land into sea enabling local fishermen to anchor their boats within the sea area without having trouble of bringing the boats to the shore.
Unity Conrainer terminal at New North Pier, Port of Colombo
Access Engineering’s input to this development included dredging, construction of a rubble-mounted embankment along the west and north revetments to protect quay settlement, rectification of the settlement with anchor rods and tie rods, construction of an underwater mass concrete curtain wall 9-11m in height along the inside face of the revetment to prevent further quay settlement, and restoration of the yard area.
The Company was also entrusted with the provision of essential amenities, including electricity cables to the yard light towers and rehabilitation of the south gantry crane rail foundation.