KPA sets up first ever maritime museum

Nairobi; Kenya: The Port of Mombasa will open to the public the first ever maritime museum next year. In a statement, Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) said the maritime museum to be located opposite the Kenya Navy Landing jetty, will be in a rehabilitated building that was the original site of trade along the Coast.

"The building site is endowed with archaeological, historical, environmental, aesthetic and economic value. The building was built in 1913. The building was originally used to store ivory," KPA said.

It is strategically located in the Port area and therefore easily accessible without interfering with the organisation's day-to-day activities.

The project is being supervised by the National Museums of Kenya (NMK) under a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2010. The role of NMK is consultancy, which includes developing a conservation and rehabilitation plan, design and production of the exhibition, training and support for the project and overall supervision of all works in collaboration with KPA Engineering.

The museum will specialise in the collection, preservation and display of artefacts and memorabilia relating but not limited to the maritime history of Kenya and East African Coast.

This will include old ships, dhows (such as Mtepe) and any other vessel unique to maritime history, anchors, flags, compasses, old cranes and other equipment that has been used within the area.

It is expected that the Museum will meet the objectives of the preserving marine artefacts and memorabilia unique to the port, the sea coast for future posterity, form part of the circuit of activities for the cruise tourists as an added attraction and serve historical and research purposes.

It will be the first and only site specifically designed and built for the preservation of the maritime history in the region.