SHANGHAI, March 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — On February 27, 2025, Colombo West International Terminal (CWIT), Sri Lanka’s first fully automated terminal developed with the participation of Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries (ZPMC), officially commenced operations. As the largest and deepest container terminal in the country, CWIT further cements Sri Lanka’s position as a leading shipping hub in South Asia, marking a significant leap forward in port infrastructure and operational capabilities.

At 11 pm local time, the terminal successfully handled the loading and unloading of its first commercial vessel. The operation took 10.5 hours, supported by a state-of-the-art fleet of 3 ship-to-shore (STS) cranes, 8 automated rail-mounted gantry cranes (ARMG), and 17 intelligent guided vehicles (IGVs). The operational efficiency of a single STS crane surpassed expectations, showcasing the terminal’s advanced capabilities. Powered by a real-time locating system (RTLS) that integrates GPS, RFID, and MLT technologies, CWIT is a fully automated facility, setting a new benchmark for efficiency and innovation in the region.

CWIT, with its 1,400-meter quay and 20-meter depth, has a capacity of 3.2 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) per year. As part of the automated terminal project, ZPMC provided 8 STS cranes, 18 ARMG cranes, and essential auxiliary systems including equipment management for cranes and ARMGs, terminal operations, automated gates, real-time container positioning, and automated management of reefer containers.

The terminal’s STS cranes, with a 72-meter outreach and a 53-meter lifting height above the rail, set a new standard for port machinery in Sri Lanka. These cranes are designed to handle ultra-large container vessels with capacities of up to 24,000 TEUs. Equipped with advanced integrated subsystems such as dual-rail optical character recognition (OCR), container positioning, vibration monitoring, and Wi-Fi connectivity, the cranes ensure seamless operations. The automated spreader system effectively addresses challenges related to container height differences, longitudinal discrepancies, and angular deviations, significantly enhancing operational efficiency.

Since entering the Sri Lankan market, ZPMC has delivered over 100 units of advanced port machinery equipment to key ports across the country. The official commencement of operations at CWIT, which showcases ZPMC’s position as the global leader in automated terminal system solutions, is set to significantly boost Sri Lanka’s economy, enhance its competitiveness in the global shipping industry, and further the development of the Maritime Silk Road.

SOURCE Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Co.,ltd.