State-owned boat builder Cey-Nor has delivered a USD 234,000 fishing vessel to Mauritius, marking what officials describe as a significant achievement for the institution's international expansion and profitability.
Sri Lanka's state-owned Cey-Nor institution completed the handover of a 55-foot fishing vessel named "CAPTAIN C" to Mauritius at a ceremony held at its Mattakkuliya boatyard. The vessel, valued at USD 234,000, was transferred to Ramesh Chuttoo, Chairman of the Captain C Adventure Offshore Fishing Co-operative Society of Mauritius. The boat is equipped with a fish storage capacity of 29 cubic meters and fuel capacity of 12,500 liters, making it suitable for commercial fishing operations.
Fisheries Minister Ramalingam Chandraseker presided over the event and used the occasion to highlight Cey-Nor's operational turnaround. He pointed to the delivery as evidence that state institutions can operate profitably with proper management, noting that Cey-Nor has moved away from earlier proposals for closure or privatization. The Minister indicated that international partnerships are expanding, with Norway providing technical support and Japan expected to contribute modernization technology following his planned visit.
Plans are underway to establish a Cey-Nor boatyard in Mauritius, according to the Minister, who characterized this development as significant for both the ministry and the country. Additionally, Cey-Nor has been commissioned to produce a vessel valued at Rs. 150 million for tourism purposes in Sri Lanka's Northern Province. Cey-Nor Chairman Vasantha Mannapperuma emphasized the institution's historical significance, noting it has produced over 20,000 vessels since 1967, and stated that the current government's international standing has positioned the company to expand exports to other regional destinations including Seychelles and Madagascar.
