📈 CICT Handles Record 2,241-Ton BESS Shipment for Grid Modernization

Colombo International Container Terminals (CICT) successfully discharged a 2,241-tonne Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) shipment, marking Sri Lanka’s largest energy storage initiative to date. Arriving on the heavy lift vessel _Da Xiang_, the cargo is a key milestone for the country's renewable energy and infrastructure goals. • Project Scope: The shipment consists of 54 heavy battery units destined for deployment across 16 nationwide substations. The initiative directly supports Sri Lanka's national target of achieving 70% renewable energy generation by 2030, reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels and enhancing long-term energy security. • Operational Breakdown: Each battery unit weighed roughly 41.5 tonnes (equivalent to a 20-foot container). Due to the weight exceeding standard 40.5-tonne terminal lifting thresholds, CICT executed a specialized midnight operation utilizing two dedicated quay cranes, 16 prime movers, and two reach stackers, alongside modified standby Rubber Tyred Gantries (RTGs) for contingency risk management. • Logistics & Storage: Deviating from conventional operations, the units were not stacked. CICT allocated 54 individual ground slots to avoid unnecessary cargo shifting. Units were segregated by final destination zones to guarantee seamless, direct retrieval for onward transportation to project locations.