Colombo bunkering resumes after two-day cyclone disruption

Bunkering operations at the Port of Colombo have resumed after its terminals were forced to close on Friday due to Cyclone Ditwah.

IMAGE: Container ship at Colombo port, Sri Lanka. Getty Images

As Colombo is a major transhipment hub in the region, the suspension is expected to disrupt schedules for a wide range of both regional and deep-sea services, said Lars Jensen, chief executive of Vespucci Maritime.

Following the two-day shutdown, port operations resumed on Monday morning, a port operations executive told ENGINE.

"Port operations have resumed, and supplies have started. We have been informed that considerable damage has occurred, and teams are now working to clear delays," the executive said.

Cyclone Ditwah caused extensive destruction across Sri Lanka, with the official death toll rising to 355, and at least 366 people reported missing as of Monday afternoon.

The cyclone has since weakened into a depression and is currently bringing heavy rains and flooding to the coast of Tamil Nadu in India.

By Gautamee Hazarika

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