Ports & Terminals
Colombo West operates Phase 1 while Phase 2 expands the system
Colombo West International Terminal; exact July 2026 Phase 2 crane arrival
Colombo West reached one million TEU in its first operating year, yet the project is still expanding. Phase 1 opened in April 2025, the full 1,400-metre quay was structurally complete by March 2026 and the first Phase 2 batch of two STS and seven CRMG cranes arrived in July. Operating, structurally complete and fully commissioned are three different milestones.
The first-year volume sits inside an unfinished build-out
CWIT controls the Phase 2 crane milestone and first-year volume. Adani controls the April 2025 start of operations; John Keells controls quay completion and the continuing full-build schedule. CCCC confirms ZPMC's Phase 1 equipment and automation scope. The records do not support a claim that the entire terminal is complete.
Staged operation precedes full-terminal completion
Automated terminals are commissioned as coupled systems. Quay structure, crane rails, power, quay cranes, yard cranes, electric transport, gate controls and software can move through acceptance on different dates while vessels are already handled on released sections.
Evidence conclusion
Commissioning must be tracked by system and phase
Phase 1's eight quay cranes, 18 automated CRMGs and 62 electric terminal vehicles form a real operating baseline. ZPMC's equipment and automation scope is confirmed. The full quay and one-million-TEU milestone strengthen the record, but the July-September 2026 crane sequence and continuing yard work keep the project in construction. Full completion should require all equipment, blocks, gates and software accepted at the 3.2 million TEU configuration.
Outstanding evidence
- Remaining 2026 Phase 2 crane arrivals
- STS and CRMG commissioning by yard block
- Three-vessel simultaneous berth use
- Gate and terminal-software completion
- Full-terminal acceptance date
- Civil and downstream subcontract disclosure
Subject index
Related subjects
These subject pages bring together related projects, technical articles, reports, and evidence methods.
Sources used 4
- CWIT Phase 2 electric cranes arrive Colombo West International Terminal, 13 July 2026
- Adani's Colombo terminal commences operations Adani Ports and SEZ, 7 April 2025
- John Keells Holdings annual report 2025/26 John Keells Holdings, Published 2026
- ZPMC equipment and automation scope at CWIT China Communications Construction Company, 16 April 2025