Challenges & opportunities for Sri Lankan engineering professionals in the emerging maritime hub:a case presentation from the shipbuilding industry

Abstract

While the demand for Asian shipbuilders prevail over the demand for European shipbuilders, Sri Lanka is in a relatively advantageous position to take the advantage of becoming a Regional Maritime Hub.With the end of the civil war, the time is most opt for the country to define its way forward and the government has vision to transform Sri Lanka regional hub with focus on a five-hub concept; a Knowledge Hub, a Commercial Hub, an Aviation Hub, an Energy Hub and a Maritime Hub.The natural geographical positioning of Sri Lanka makes it an enviable advantage to become a Maritime Hub and the amassed experience and acumen in Shipbuilding and Ship Repair augments its true potential. There are many challenges, but they also provides ample opportunities for the Sri Lankan Engineering Professionals to exploit. This case study is mainly focus on the contribution of Colombo Dockyard PLC and their Engineering Professionals, for the Shipbuilding and Ship repairing sector on the way forward on sustainable development of Sri Lanka.