Sri Lanka port takes delivery of pilot boat from Colombo Dockyard

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka Ports Authority said it had taken delivery of a pilot boat built by Colombo Dockyard Plc, a unit of Onomichi Dockyard based in the Indian Ocean island.

The pilot boat is based on a design by Macduff Ship Designing Ltd of Scotland.

“This is a sustainable step forward in highlighting Sri Lanka’s state of the art vessel building capacities creating a positive attitude towards craft manufacturing capabilities in Sri Lanka,” State Minister of Port Supply Facilities and Boats and Shipping Industry Development Jayantha Samaraweera said in a statement.

Originally a state enteprise, Onomichi bought the firm as part of a privatization exercise.

The boat is 19 metres long and can accommodate four pilots and four sailors.

It has a top speed of 2 nautical miles an hour and can operate in any weather in Sri Lanka, the port said. (Colombo/Feb24/2021)