MTBS Starts Developing Sri Lankas Port Master Plan

MTBS Maritime & Transport Business Solutions (MTBS), a consultancy firm from the Netherlands, began developing Sri Lankas national master plan for the countrys port sector on November 30, 2016. MTBS has been awarded the contract to develop the master plan by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA). The plan will include technical, operational, commercial, legal, and financial/economic activities relating to its three main components, MTBS said. Firstly, the National Policy Directions (NPD) aims to assess and improve the national port sector vision, policies, allocation of port functions, and institutional framework. As such, the NPD will provide a long-term strategy for the port sector that is expected to enhance Sri Lanka’s position in maritime trade, according to MTBS. Secondly, individual Port Development Plans (PDPs) aim to provide strategic plans for the ports of Colombo and Trincomalee. Inter alia, the PDPs will identify priority projects and ensure that port infrastructure and operations are developed in line with demand and in accordance with international best practice designs, MTBS said. Thirdly, MTBS said it will provide technical advice on the SASEC Port Access Elevated Highway (PAEH) Project in Colombo, in order to optimize the interface between the PAEH project and identified port priority projects.