Bangladesh’s HR Lines to launch Colombo-Chattogram feeder service in partnership with Clarion Shipping

Bangladesh’s container ship operator HR Lines Limited, will be launching the Colombo-Chattogram feeder service on the 4th of April 2021, in partnership with, Clarion Shipping (Pvt) Limited, a subsidiary of Hayleys Advantis Limited. The operation will commence with two of the newest container vessels to be added to the fleet of HR Lines, MV HR Hera and MV HR Rhea with a capacity of 1,454TEU each.

The Colombo-Chattogram Express service, expands Colombo’s transshipment connectivity to Bangladesh with a fixed day, weekly service. With Colombo being the only deep water port in the South Asian region that can accommodate even the largest VLCC vessels, the need for frequent transshipment connections to regional ports has increased in recent times. Taking advantage of its strength and stature in the field of shipping and logistics, Hayleys Advantis has constantly worked towards building capability across the region to help position Sri Lanka as a regional logistics hub.

Commenting on the planned launch of the new service Tharanga Perera, Director/CEO of Clarion Shipping (Pvt) Ltd said that “this goes in line with the Government’s aspirations of establishing Sri Lanka as a regional logistics hub and frequent transshipment connections of this nature, will enable Colombo to attract more large vessels in the coming years. Our aim is to help establish Colombo as the largest transshipment cargo hub for the Asian region”.

Meanwhile Hamdan Hossain Chowdhury, Director – HR Lines stated that “HR Lines will launch two more ships in August 2021, each with a capacity of 1,550TEU, which will also be deployed on the Colombo-Chattogram Express service, upgrading it to a twice weekly service”.

Headquartered in Bangladesh’s capital city of Dhaka, HR Lines is a part of Karnaphuli Group, a diversified business house with interests in marketing, distribution, financial services, general insurance, telecommunications, print and electronic media, aviation, manufacturing, healthcare, retail, shipping and logistics. HR Lines is working towards expanding its connectivity with regional transshipment hubs with the procurement of up to six box-ships with a capacity of around 1,550TEU in the coming months.

Since being established in 1999, Clarion Shipping has expanded its service portfolio to cover all aspects of shipping services, ship supplies and maritime security services, cementing its position as a reliable shipping partner in Sri Lanka. The company draws strength from its parent, Hayleys Advantis Limited, the transportation and logistics arm of Hayleys PLC, the number 1 listed company in Sri Lanka. With over six decades of experience in the field of shipping and logistics in Sri Lanka, Hayleys Advantis has established itself as an innovator in the industry, setting the pace and shaping the logistics category.