RIYADH, 29 December 2004 — All ships sailing from Saudi sea ports, which used to dock in Colombo's main seaport before Sunday's massive earthquake that  

RIYADH, 29 December 2004 — All ships sailing from Saudi sea ports, which used to dock in Colombo's main seaport before Sunday's massive earthquake that triggered tidal waves wrecking death and devastation in southern Asia, will bypass the Sri Lankan port and head directly to Singapore. Even the feeder lines in Indonesia, India and Thailand have been adversely affected amid reports of aftershocks and heightened fears, which can inflict economic losses and pose operational difficulties for local and regional shipping companies, cargo agents and freight forwarders.

"Ships sailing from Jeddah port will not dock in Colombo as per the instructions received from the port authorities of Sri Lanka", said Andrew Sinnen, country manager of Trico International, a leading cargo company, here yesterday. Sinnen said that the Colombo port was hit by tsunamis, inflicting substantial damage and disturbing port's operation in the process. A container ship also got tilted after the ship was caught amid tidal waves and cross-currents". The name of the shipping company, which owns that damaged ship, was not immediately known.

But, most of the shipping companies, which have their presence in the Kingdom, said that "we have not received reports of any employee casualties nor of damages to operated facilities.

However, while we are still assessing the situation in detail, it is still too early to give a status on every single container. In the event that container damages are reported, the affected customer will be informed directly. But, this high-magnitude quake really hampers our plans in terms of sending and receiving goods to and from the affected countries in southern Asia", they said.

Asked whether ships are calling on India's Madras and Cochin ports, where 72-hour red alert has been declared by the Indian government; Mohammed Ilyas Hussain of Basem International Shipping and Logistics Co., said that "we have not received any information so far". Hussain, however, said that many vessels have been sailing directly to these two ports in India and it seems that the ports are safe and have resumed normal operations.

In reply to a question about the economic losses inflicted on shipping companies because of this calamity, Shivadas Pandiksla, regional manager of Namma Cargo Services Co. Ltd. said that "shipping traffic to different destinations in Asia continue to be affected because of the devastation caused by the quake and tidal waves. The real assessment of losses can be made only after a few days from now.

Cargoes booked from Saudi Arabia to different destinations are likely to be interrupted or delayed in days to come".

Asked about any ship, which has gone missing or swept away by the waves; the local industry sources said that there have been no reports of any missing or damaged ships owned by any Gulf shipping company. They said that the National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Shipping Company, the National Chemical Carrier, Maersk Sealand, Happag Lloyod and other shipping lines have reported no loss or damage to their vessels. But, several companies are still finding out more information. Many countries like India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Thailand; whose coastal regions have been hit by tsunami are important trading partners of Saudi Arabia.

A number of ships from the Gulf region visit the south Asian ports on a daily basis. More than 14,000 ships including those originating from Asian countries visit the ports of the Kingdom annually. Saudi Arabia, whose nine sea ports are equipped with world-class facilities operating 24 hours throughout the year, has geographically two important coasts extending 2,900 kilometers along the Arabian Gulf and the Red Sea. The country can also boast to have more than eight million square meters of storage yards at its ports.