Dr Sarath Obeysekera

Trincomalee has good strategic potential to develop construction & repair (shipyard / offshore fabrication / repair services). It already has a deep natural harbour, government and port-authority plans to industrialise the port, and fresh political interest (energy hub / bunkering / refinery plans) that will create local vessel traffic and project work. Those factors make a Trincomalee-based business attractive — but success depends on securing land/berths, financing, skilled labour, and anchor customers to guarantee steady revenue. 

---

Why the opportunity exists (key drivers)

1. World-class natural harbour — Trincomalee’s bay is one of the deepest, sheltered harbours in the Indian Ocean, ideal for docking, heavy lifts and fabrication of large modules. This is the long-term structural advantage. 
2. Government & SLPA plans — The Sri Lanka Ports Authority and other national plans explicitly list Trincomalee for port/industrial development and nautical improvements, and urban/industrial masterplans (2025–2035) include port-side industrialisation. That gives a policy route for permits, PPPs and incentives. 
3. Energy / bunkering projects underway — Talks and agreements with India and the UAE to develop an energy hub, pipelines, bunkering and possible refinery will generate demand for bunkering services, tank/vessel repairs, pipeline_module fabrication and logistics support. This is a major near-to-mid term demand source. 
4. Regional OSV / offshore market growth — Offshore Support Vessels (OSV), platform support and offshore construction markets in the Bay of Bengal / Asia Pacific are growing — more OSVs, cable/renewables and floating units need local repair/retrofit capacity. That feedstock is a reliable customer pool. 
5. Existing supply chain / proof of concept — Colombo Dockyard and other Sri Lankan players already run afloat/repair operations and have begun activity in Trincomalee — shows feasibility and an initial customer base to build from. 

---

Who can be your customers (practical list)

Primary customers (highest likelihood / value):

• Offshore Support Vessel (OSV) operators — routine maintenance, DP systems, deck gear, crane/anchor repairs. (Regional OSV fleets from India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Southeast Asia). 
• Shipowners of tankers & product carriers — bunkering-related calls, repairs after voyages, hull/propeller/engine work. (Tankers visiting for bunkering/refinery support). 
• Ship conversion / module fabrication clients — owners/operators converting tankers to FPSO, or fabricating large modules for onshore plants/refineries. (Energy companies, EPC contractors). 
• Government & defence — Sri Lanka Navy, Coast Guard, government marine units for maintenance, docking and refit contracts. (Usually steady, secure revenue). 
• Oil & gas / energy companies and their contractors — pipeline contractors, tank farm operators, offshore project EPCs (for fabrication, pre-outfitting and repairs). 

Secondary customers (opportunity / seasonal):

• Fishing & small commercial fleet — repair, steelwork and small refits.
• Cruise/visit vessels & yachts — light repairs, provisioning, though volumes are lower.
• Salvage/repair after incidents — emergency repairs, heavy-lift refits.

---

Services to offer (what to build first)

Quick revenue generators (lower capex, fast to field):

• Afloat repairs / diver-supported hull work (can start with minimal hardstand). 
• Engine/auxiliary service, propeller/shaft repairs, electrical and hydraulics.
• Bunkering-support services and minor tank cleaning / valve work (linked to energy hub).

Higher-capex, higher-margin services (scale later):

• Dry-dock or travel-lift slipway for small/medium vessels.
• Heavy fabrication yard for modules, topsides, FPSO conversions.
• Steel plate shop, blasting/painting hall, heavy-lift crane and quay upgrades.

---

Risks & constraints (what to watch)

• Competition from Colombo & Hambantota — Colombo has mature yards; Hambantota is developing large industrial capacity. You must offer something complementary (specialist offshore, quicker turnaround, lower draft constraints). 
• Infrastructure & berthing / land availability — need secure land/berths and dredging/engineering approvals from SLPA; delays/costs possible. 
• Financing and skilled workforce — heavy fabrication + ship repair require capital and trained welders, riggers, engineers — workforce development is necessary.
• Regulatory & environmental approvals — fabrication, paint-blasting and waste management need strict controls.
• Project dependency risk — dependence on a single large anchor project (e.g., refinery) can be risky if that project stalls. 

---

Practical go-to-market plan (high level, immediate steps)

1. Secure a small pilot site / lease for afloat repairs and light fabrication (fastest to start cash flow). (Quick win: afloat repairs branch model already used by Colombo Dockyard.) 
2. Target clients: approach OSV operators, local tanker operators (bunkering routes), Sri Lanka Navy/Coast Guard, and EPCs working on the energy hub. Offer short lead-time, competitive pricing and bundled services (fuel + spares + repair). 
3. Form partnerships / JV with an established yard (Colombo Dockyard, foreign EPC, or regional shipyard) for technical backup, training and initial credibility. 
4. Invest in workforce training (welding, NDT, marine electrical) — tie with local technical institutes and the Export Development Board / SLPA incentives. 
5. Bid for SLPA / government small works (engineering, maintenance), to build local track record and cash flow. 

---

Simple revenue/scale thinking (rules of thumb)

• A small afloat/repair operation (few cranes, workshops, slipway access) can be set up with moderate capex and reach break-even faster — good for serving OSVs and coastal tankers.
• A dry-dock + heavy fabrication yard requires large CAPEX, longer lead time and anchor contracts (EPCs, oil companies) but yields higher margins on conversions and module fabrication.(If you want, I can sketch an indicative CAPEX vs. revenue timeline for small vs large options.)

---

Suggested next concrete actions (I can help do these)

1. Prepare a short investment brief (1–2 pages) targeted at SLPA/EDB or a private investor describing site, services, and expected clients.
2. Draft an Expression of Interest (EOI) to send to Colombo Dockyard, Indian shipyards or AD Ports for JV talks.
3. Make a customer outreach list (OSV operators, local tanker operators, EPCs) with contact script.

Regards