Operational Restrictions

1. Road Limitation

• Max permissible load on road = total weight of truck + Chassis + total weight of container
• maximum width: No limitation
• maximum height: No limitation
• maximum weight (cargo + container + tractor + chassis): 30 MT
• Road Development Authority has to be informed of the route, vehicle category & type for over-dimension cargo.
• City Traffic Police has imposed a ban on moving of heavy vehicles, including containers, between 6am to 9am on week days, for security reasons.

2. Rail Limitation

• Max permissible load on rail = tare weight of wagon + total weight of container.
• Containers are not transported by rail in Sri Lanka.

3. Dangerous Cargo

• Radioactive materials are prohibited
• Following commodities are "carriage prohibited":
  • Ammonium Nitrate
  • Ammonium Permanganate
  • Chlorate of Ammonium
  • Methyl Nitrite
  • Nitrites, Inorganic, Mixtures with Ammonium compounds
  • Zinc Ammonium Nitrite
  • Arms & Ammunitions - Prohibited from transshipment in Colombo
• Handling restriction is imposed on IMDG Class 1 cargo and has to be either load from a barge / discharged into one for transporting to special storage area. All other DG cargoes can be discharged alongside at all berths.
• DG declaration must be submitted to Sri Lanka Port Authority Safety Section at least 02 (two) working days prior vessel's arrival.
• All DG cargo containers are usually taken to a separate yard ( Kochchikade Warehouse ) which is away from the berths.
• If any DG cargo is found in a LCL container, such cargo will be kept in container pending collection by the consignee concerned.
• Any cargo, regardless of FCL/LCL, only 3 clear days are given for free storage.