The Hambantota International Port (HIP) has benchmarked their Lost Time Accident (LTA) Campaign, with the port’s Energy services department (ENS) successfully achieving their targeted 200,000 man hours during the 1st week of October. An important milestone in creating confidence amongst customers and in the market, particularly in the Oil and Gas sector, where safety is of utmost importance.
“With Hambantota International Port positioning itself as a hub for energy services, consumers in the market are not only looking for reliable supply, but also factors surrounding its delivery. Therefore, this is high on our list of priorities not only in this sector, but across all port activities. Our standard operational procedures meet the highest benchmarks and are aligned to our parent company CMPort’s stringent procedures and rules. Safety forms a vital part of our operations here and overseas,” says Ravi Jayawickreme, CEO of HIPS adding that teamwork was key in achieving this milestone which is a testament to the port’s commitment towards health, safety and the environment.
Lost Time Accidents or “LTA” are work-related injuries that would prevent an injured employee from working at their posts after the accident. The ENS Department which prioritises safety and strives to maintain a zero accident work environment, kicked off the LTA campaign in January last year, achieving their set targets of 50,000 and 100,000 man hours. On achieving their 2022 target of 200,000 man hours, ENS has now launched their 4th target of 300,000 hours. HIP began bunkering operations in April 2020 and the ENS team has maintained stringent safety measures in their operation of the Oil terminal and Jetty.
CEO of HIPG, Johnson Liu, speaking at an event to celebrate the achievements of the Energy Services Department said, “Oil & Gas is one of the important major businesses of the Hambantota International Port, as well as being one of the most promising businesses of the future. In the last 3 years, once we completed repairs to the Oil Jetty and Tank Farm and commenced operations of the facility, we witnessed its progress and development. We were able to relaunch bunkering at HIP, even during the pandemic and the current economic crisis in the country. Located in the centre of the main traditional sea route, HIP has great potential to develop as a major energy hub in South Asia. Day by day we are witnessing the growth of HIP’s oil and gas business vertical, and we place high importance on enhancing the safe management of our facility and making it fully compliant with international standards.”
The port also launched a Close Management System for safe operations of the oil tank farm at the celebratory event which coincided with the 150th anniversary of the China Merchants Group, the parent company of HIPG’s global partner CMPort. The tank farm and storage areas are separated through a fence, keeping in line with international standards. With the new close management system, ENS will ensure maximum standard requirements and strictly limited access for personnel authorised to enter the tank farm facility for operations.
Aligning with HIP’s green port concept, the senior management of the port planted coconut trees in proximity to the oil jetty compound. The event was attended by senior management of the port, HODs, staff, representatives from the port’s bunkering partner Sinopec, and associates Interocean & Changsha.
