With the view of increasing the efficiency of services between the Port of Colombo and the Indian Subcontinent, the SLPA has implemented a Window Berthing policy.

The system, whereby a caller is provided a specific time window in which the vessel will be berthed upon arrival and delay will be penalized, is implemented in most ports around the world, and is the general policy of the privately owned SAGT terminal.

The SLPA's new window berthing scheme will initially cover Chennai & Tuticorin sectors, with two berths being reserved for this purpose at Jaya Container Terminal (JCT) and Unity Container Terminal (UCT).

Sailing between two ports that operate window-berthing streamlines allows faster rotation of the ships, thereby streamlining the service provided to customers.

SLPA initially plans to implement this policy for all main lines & feeder services calling at JCT & UCT, provided they are sailing to and from windows in Chennai and Tuti.