A plaque exchange ceremony was held on board the vessel Hoegh Kunsan of Hoegh Autoliners, to mark its inaugural call at the Guide Pier of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), under the agency services of Messrs. GAC Shipping Ltd on Tuesday.

Hoegh Autoliners is one of the world's leading operators of car carriers with a fleet of about 55 Roll-on/Roll-off (Ro/Ro) vessels in its commercial operation.

The company supplies transportation services to the world's car manufacturers and operates in a network of trade systems from the main export areas for new cars in US, Far East and Europe.

In April 2006 Hoegh Autoliners was awarded by GM as "2005 Supplier of the Year for Ocean Carrier Services" for the third consecutive year.

Hoegh Autoliners' new local agent, GAC Shipping Ltd, was set up in Sri Lanka in 1993, as a joint venture with McLarens of Sri Lanka.

The company offers clients a comprehensive range of professional shipping and logistics services from its offices in Colombo, Galle and Trincomalee. From its base at Galle, GAC provides a Ship Supply Service to serve international shipping in traffic lanes off the southern tip of Sri Lanka.

The company also assists claims, surveys and legal consultation in its capacity as correspondent for most international P&I Clubs. The SLPA plaques were exchanged between the Managing Director of SLPA Capt. Nihal Keppetipola and the Captain of the vessel Hoegh Kunsan Captain Tun Nyein and officials of GAC Shipping Limited.

Chief Operations Manager of SLPA G.A. Thalagala, Harbour Master of SLPA Capt. Ravi Jayawickrama, Director (CEO) of GAC Shipping Ltd; Preethilal Fernando, Director of GAC Shipping Ltd; Chandima Hulangamuwa, Director of GAC Shipping Ltd; Dinesh Jayawardhane and Manager Operations - Nilan Jayawardhana were also present.
(DN14102009)