The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) this week continued its engagement with leading global shipping lines by hosting a senior delegation from A.P. Moller – Maersk’s Dubai Regional Hub, reaffirming a shared commitment to enhancing collaboration and operational alignment at the Port of Colombo.
The visit underscored the strategic importance of Colombo as a key maritime hub within regional and global container shipping networks. The Maersk delegation was led by Mr Adil Et-Tazrouti, Regional Hub Manager overseeing the Colombo hub, and included Mr Abdulla Mussa Shaheen, Berth Planning Lead for the IME Regional Hub.
Discussions between the two sides focused on operational planning, berth productivity, service optimisation and future coordination aimed at ensuring the efficient handling of Maersk services at Colombo. The SLPA delegation was led by Eng. Ganaka Hemachandra, Managing Director, along with Mr H. J. K. U. Kumara, Director – Marketing & Business Development, Mr Pradeep Perera, Acting Director – Operations, and other senior officials.
Founded in Denmark in 1904, A.P. Moller – Maersk has evolved over more than a century into one of the world’s leading integrated logistics companies, with a global footprint spanning ocean shipping, ports, supply chain management and inland logistics. A pioneer in containerisation since the 1970s, the company today operates in over 130 countries and continues to play a defining role in global trade.
As part of its end-to-end logistics strategy, Maersk expanded into air freight with the launch of Maersk Air Cargo in 2022 following the acquisition of Star Air, complementing its ocean network with dedicated capacity for time-critical cargo. The Group has also made significant investments in digital platforms, terminal infrastructure and decarbonisation initiatives, including the deployment of dual-fuel methanol-powered container vessels.
Maersk’s longstanding presence in South Asia and ongoing network optimisation efforts underline the strategic value it places on reliable hub ports such as Colombo, as global trade patterns evolve and demand for efficiency, resilience and sustainability continues to grow.
