Hambantota International Port (HIP) has recorded its highest single-vessel container throughput to date after handling MSC Marie Leslie, operated by Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), between 11 and 15 April 2026.
During the call, HIP processed 7,968 container moves, equating to 13,260 TEUs, surpassing its previous benchmarks and reinforcing a continued upward trend in high-volume vessel handling.
The latest figure exceeds March 2026 records set by MSC Ilenia (12,957 TEUs) and MSC Ruby (11,369 TEUs), indicating strengthening operational capacity and increasing container concentration on individual vessel calls.
Tommy Yang, Chief Operating Officer of Hambantota International Port Group (HIPG), said: “This achievement reflects the coordination, discipline and capability of our teams across all functions. As volumes continue to increase, our focus remains on delivering safe, efficient and reliable services to our customers.”
READ: Hambantota Port invests $108m to expand container capacity
The vessel operation was supported by integrated port functions, including operations, engineering, safety and navigation teams, alongside external partners, with an emphasis on maintaining productivity under high-density cargo handling conditions.
Located approximately 10 nautical miles from the main East–West shipping lane, HIP has been positioning itself as a transhipment and regional logistics node, with growing emphasis on container operations alongside its broader multipurpose port activities.
The latest performance highlights the port’s increasing ability to accommodate larger container volumes per call, a key metric for transhipment competitiveness in the regional hub landscape, particularly as shipping lines optimise port rotations and cargo consolidation strategies across Asia and the Indian Ocean corridor.
For more information:
Hambantota International Port – https://www.hipg.lk/
