Sri Lanka, June 11 -- The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) yesterday moved to reassure the shipping industry an end to operational shutdowns at the East Container Terminal (ECT) previously required for construction.

The assurance follows the successful completion of the critical installation and commissioning phase for 12 new Ship-to-Shore (STS) cranes and 40 Automated Rail-Mounted Gantry (ARMG) cranes. While the terminal continues its overall development, this milestone means there will be no further planned disruptions for crane installation.

This development will allay industry fears over costly interruptions. A scheduled closure from June 5th to June 19th, coupled with adverse weather, was widely expected to negatively impact vital...