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Ship chandlers in Colombo:
a ship supply guide to the port

What ship managers and chandlers need to know about supplying vessels at the Port of Colombo: the terminals, deliveries at berth, anchorage and OPL, customs rules for ship stores, and the 2026 congestion.

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By the Chandler team at IF Solutions · Updated 20 October 2026 · 8 min read

In short: Ship chandlers in Colombo supply vessels alongside at the port's container terminals, by launch at the anchorage, and at outer port limits (OPL). Colombo handled a record 8.29 million TEU in 2025, and about 85% of its containers in the first half of 2026 were transshipment, so many calls are short container-ship stops. Duty-free ship stores must go aboard under a Sri Lanka Customs entry or permit, and bonded stores come from Customs-approved private trading bonds.

The Port of Colombo at a glance

Port of Colombo
OperatorSri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), with private operators at CICT, SAGT and CWIT
2025 throughput8,291,178 TEU, the highest on record (2024: 7,792,069 TEU)
First half of 20264,444,034 TEU, up 11.9% on the first half of 2025
Transshipment shareAbout 85% of containers in the first half of 2026
World ranking20th among container ports in Alphaliner's first-half 2026 table, up from 26th
Delivery pointsAlongside at the terminals, at the anchorage by launch, and at OPL
Other Sri Lankan portsHambantota, Galle and Trincomalee

Because most ships calling Colombo are transshipment container vessels, port stays are short. A chandler can have a day or less between the requisition and the ship's departure, so a slow quote usually loses the order.

Terminals at the Port of Colombo

TerminalOperatorNotes
CICT (Colombo International Container Terminals)China Merchants Port Holdings 85%, SLPA 15%Largest by volume: 37% of the port's first-half 2026 throughput; 18 m deep
CWIT (Colombo West International Terminal)Adani Ports, John Keells Holdings and SLPAOpened April 2025; Colombo's first fully automated deep-water terminal (20 m); 717,226 TEU in 2025
SAGT (South Asia Gateway Terminals)John Keells Holdings, APM Terminals, SLPA and an Evergreen affiliate15 m alongside depth
ECT (East Container Terminal)SLPAPhase III opened January 2026; still being completed; has also berthed a cruise ship
JCT (Jaya Container Terminal) and UCTSLPAOlder, shallower berths

Terminal names matter on a requisition: deliveries go through the terminal gate the vessel is berthed at, so the chandler needs the berth and terminal along with the ETA.

How ship supply works in Colombo

Colombo chandlers and agents offer three delivery points:

  • Alongside, through the terminal gate, when the vessel is berthed.
  • At the anchorage, by launch or supply boat, while the vessel waits for a berth.
  • At OPL (outer port limits), for vessels that do not enter port, often combined with bunkering, crew change or other husbandry services.

The usual flow is the same as anywhere: the requisition arrives from the ship manager, the vessel or the local agent; the chandler collects supplier prices, quotes, receives the PO, gathers and packs the goods, and delivers before the ship sails. See what a ship chandler does for the full sequence.

2026: plan for anchorage deliveries. Congestion returned to Colombo in 2026 as cargo was diverted to the port. In September 2026 the Sunday Times reported ships waiting outside the harbour for three to four days on average, and quoted the exporters' association chairman putting yard use at up to 130%. Longer waits at anchorage mean more launch deliveries and more changes to supply dates, so chandlers need to re-plan deliveries quickly when the ETA moves.

Customs, ship stores and bonded stores

Supplying a foreign-going vessel in Sri Lanka runs through Sri Lanka Customs:

  • Ship stores are treated like imports unless properly shipped as stores. Under section 39 of the Customs Ordinance, a ship's stores are subject to the same duties and rules as imported goods. Under section 61, Customs may allow the stores a ship needs for its voyage, but nothing taken on board counts as stores unless it is shipped as such by entry or by permit of the Director-General or a proper officer.
  • Bonded stores (duty-free liquor, tobacco and similar) come from Customs-approved private trading bonds; Sri Lanka Customs lists the supply of ship stores among the uses of its bonded warehousing scheme.
  • Ship spares in transit are listed by Sri Lanka Customs as transshipment cargo, cleared under Customs supervision. Ask your agent how they will be cleared.

In practice your chandler and agent handle the paperwork, but a requisition should always separate bonded items from ordinary stores so they can be cleared correctly. This is a summary, not legal advice; check current procedures with your agent.

How to find a ship chandler in Colombo

  • Sri Lanka Ship Suppliers Association (SLSSA), the industry body for Sri Lankan ship suppliers, based in Colombo: slssa.lk. It represents its members to Sri Lanka Customs and the SLPA.
  • ISSA member directory: in October 2026 the International Shipsuppliers & Services Association listed 20 member companies in Sri Lanka, all based in Colombo.
  • E-procurement marketplaces such as ShipServ, where Colombo suppliers list their catalogues.

When choosing, ask each chandler how fast they quote, whether they deliver at anchorage and OPL, how they handle bonded stores and returns, and whether their invoices match your PO line by line.

Other Sri Lankan ports for ship supply

PortWhat to know
HambantotaRun by Hambantota International Port Group (China Merchants Port and SLPA, 99-year lease from 2017). A growing bunkering hub with VLSFO, MGO/MDO and, since January 2025, HSFO.
GalleSLPA port in the south; agents offer husbandry, crew change and bunkering at the Galle anchorage and OPL. It has a yacht marina.
TrincomaleeDeep natural harbour on the east coast, used for bulk, break-bulk and industry; bunkers available.

For ship chandlers in Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan chandlers have long described the same problems: approvals that need visits to several offices, a price-sensitive market, import restrictions and tariffs, and foreign exchange that delays imported goods. With 2026's congestion and short transshipment calls on top, the chandler who quotes first and gets the paperwork right usually gets the order.

Chandler is ship chandler software built in Sri Lanka, with a working Sri Lankan ship chandler, DeepOcean. AI reads the vessel's requisition from an email, PDF, Excel file or photo. Your suppliers price items through a link, and your margin is applied for you. The same order then runs through supplier POs, packing, dispatch to berth or anchorage, handover photos, returns and the final invoice, in LKR, USD or any other currency. The team that builds and supports it is in Sri Lanka. See pricing or book a demo below with one of your own inquiries.

Sources

Checked 19 October 2026.

  1. Sri Lanka Ports Authority: Port of Colombo
  2. SLPA: record 2025 throughput
  3. Daily FT: first-half 2026 growth (1 Aug 2026)
  4. NewsFirst: Colombo 20th in Alphaliner ranking (28 Aug 2026)
  5. John Keells: CWIT commences operations
  6. Daily Mirror: CWIT and ECT in 2025 (27 Jan 2026)
  7. Daily FT: ECT Phase III operations
  8. SAGT: about the terminal
  9. Sunday Times: Colombo congestion (6 Sep 2026)
  10. Sri Lanka Customs Ordinance, Part IV (s.39)
  11. Sri Lanka Customs Ordinance, Part VII (s.61)
  12. Sri Lanka Customs: bonded warehousing
  13. Sri Lanka Ship Suppliers Association
  14. ISSA: members in Sri Lanka
  15. Daily FT: ship chandling in Sri Lanka (20 Jan 2025)
  16. Daily FT: Hambantota HSFO bunkering
  17. Daily Mirror: ship suppliers urge govt support (5 Nov 2015)
  18. Daily FT: SLSSA 46th AGM (20 Dec 2021)
  19. SAGT Sustainability Report 2021
  20. SLPA presentation: Port of Colombo
  21. Ada Derana: Mein Schiff 6 at ECT
  22. Sri Lanka Customs: Revenue Services Directorate (ship spares)
FAQ

Ship chandlers in Colombo: Common questions

Last updated 20 October 2026

Can ship chandlers deliver to vessels at Colombo anchorage?

Yes. Colombo chandlers and agents deliver alongside at the terminals, by launch or supply boat at the anchorage, and at outer port limits (OPL) for vessels that do not enter port.

How busy is the Port of Colombo?

Colombo handled a record 8.29 million TEU in 2025 and 4.44 million TEU in the first half of 2026, up 11.9%. About 85% is transshipment. In September 2026 ships were reported waiting three to four days outside the harbour because of congestion.

How are bonded stores supplied to ships in Sri Lanka?

Duty-free bonded stores come from Customs-approved private trading bonds and must go on board under a Sri Lanka Customs entry or permit. Your chandler and ship agent handle the paperwork.

Is there a ship suppliers association in Sri Lanka?

Yes. The Sri Lanka Ship Suppliers Association (SLSSA), based in Colombo, represents Sri Lankan ship suppliers. Several Colombo chandlers are also members of ISSA, the International Shipsuppliers & Services Association.

Which terminals are at the Port of Colombo?

CICT, CWIT, SAGT, ECT and the SLPA-run JCT and UCT. CICT handled the most containers in the first half of 2026. CWIT, opened in April 2025, is Colombo's first fully automated deep-water terminal.

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