Real-time vessel
intelligence for Sri Lankan waters.
Critical AIS intelligence for global law firms and P&I Clubs requiring rapid maritime enforcement, whether navigating Colombo Port City regulations or executing an arrest in the strategic deep-water harbour of Trincomalee.
Watch
- Coverage
- 4 Sri Lankan ports
- Response
- 24 / 7 · out-of-hours filings
- Forum
- High Court of Colombo · Admiralty
01 · Choose a data source
02 · Choose a port
Switch jurisdiction. Live.
Port of Colombo
· MarineTraffic6.9500°N · 79.8500°E · zoom 12
Port of Colombo
South Asia's busiest transhipment hub. Primary jurisdiction for ship arrest applications under Sri Lankan admiralty.
Port Intelligence Feed
Live operational signals. Four ports.
Sri Lanka Port Intelligence
| Status indicator | Vessel / IMO | Type | Status | DWT | Berth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇨🇳 | SITC QINGDAO IMO 9876543 |
Container | At Berth | 28k DWT |
COL-3 |
| 🇹🇼 | EVER LIVING IMO 9234567 |
Container | Arriving | 65k DWT |
COL-7 |
| 🇸🇪 | STENA IMPERIAL IMO 9112233 |
Tanker | At Berth | 105k DWT |
COL-T2 |
| 🇮🇳 | BULK INDIA IMO 9445566 |
Bulk | Departing | 47k DWT |
COL-5 |
| 🇩🇰 | AOTEA MAERSK IMO 9667788 |
Container | Anchorage | 80k DWT |
Anch. |
| 🇬🇷 | PACIFIC GLORY IMO 9334455 |
Bulk | At Berth | 52k DWT |
COL-1 |
| 🇯🇵 | ORIENTAL PEARL IMO 9556677 |
Container | Arriving | 31k DWT |
COL-9 |
| 🇦🇪 | GULF STAR IMO 9778899 |
Tanker | At Berth | 92k DWT |
COL-T1 |
| 🇵🇭 | MARINA QUEEN IMO 9991122 |
General | Departing | 14k DWT |
COL-4 |
II · Urgent · Admiralty Instructions
Immediate legal intervention for vessel arrests, maritime liens, and jurisdictional disputes.
We act for overseas law firms and P&I Clubs that need to move before a vessel sails. Urgent instructions reach a partner directly.
Ship arrest applications
Colombo, Galle, Trincomalee, Hambantota
Out-of-hours filings
Warrant execution outside court hours
Continuous AIS monitoring
Vessels of interest, real-time
P&I Club coordination
Foreign solicitor instructions accepted
III · Jurisdictional Reach
Ship arrest in Colombo, enforcement across Sri Lankan waters.
AW Chambers conducts admiralty enforcement in the High Court of Colombo exercising Sri Lanka maritime jurisdiction over vessels calling at Colombo, Galle, Trincomalee, and Hambantota. Instructions are taken from foreign solicitors, owners, charterers, bunker suppliers, P&I Clubs, and cargo interests.
A ship arrest in Colombo can be initiated within hours of confirmed berth arrival. Our LMT allows instructing teams to verify vessel position, port-of-call, and movement history before issuing arrest instructions, materially reducing the cost of speculative filings.
For admiralty enforcement involving in rem proceedings, maritime liens, mortgage enforcement, sister-ship applications, and the release of vessels under security, we coordinate with the Marshal of Court, port authorities, and surveyors throughout the period of detention.
IV · Common Questions
Arresting a vessel in Sri Lankan waters.
For the full procedure, see our guide to arresting a ship in Sri Lanka or the maritime & admiralty practice.
- How do you arrest a ship in Sri Lanka?
- A vessel is arrested by an action in rem in the High Court of Colombo, which exercises the admiralty jurisdiction conferred on the High Court of the Republic of Sri Lanka by the Admiralty Jurisdiction Act No. 40 of 1983, with procedure governed by the High Court (Admiralty Jurisdiction) Rules 1991. The claim documents, supporting affidavit and application should be prepared before the ship berths, so the warrant can be executed while she is still in port.
- Which court hears ship arrest applications in Sri Lanka?
- The High Court of Colombo, exercising admiralty jurisdiction under the Admiralty Jurisdiction Act No. 40 of 1983. That jurisdiction covers vessels calling at Colombo, Galle, Trincomalee and Hambantota, so an arrest anywhere in Sri Lankan waters is applied for in Colombo.
- How quickly can a vessel be arrested in Colombo?
- Where papers are ready, an arrest can be initiated within hours of a confirmed berth arrival. The constraint is almost never the court — it is how long it takes to assemble the claim documents and evidence of the vessel's presence, which is why position should be verified before instructions are issued.
- What security is required to release an arrested vessel?
- Release is generally obtained by providing security for the claim, commonly a bank guarantee or a letter of undertaking from the owner's P&I Club, on terms acceptable to the arresting party or as fixed by court. The vessel is released once security is in place.
- Can foreign solicitors and P&I Clubs instruct AW Chambers directly?
- Yes. The chambers accepts instructions from foreign law firms, owners, charterers, bunker suppliers, cargo interests and P&I correspondents, and coordinates with the Marshal of Court, port authorities and surveyors for the duration of the detention.