By WILLIS OKETCH
Stakeholders in the shipping industry are alarmed by an industrial dispute at the Mombasa port, which has virtually stalled operations.
Ships docking at Kilindini harbour are subjected to long delays due to a dispute between Kenya Ports Authority and the Dock Workers Union. However, the Standard was unable to establish what the dispute was about.
The stakeholders, however, claimed that the dispute between the two warring parties had affected operations at the port.
In a protest letter to KPA managing director stakeholders have complained of delayed loading of ships and shortage of workers as the reason for the holdup.
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Multiport International captain, NS Shabharwal claimed that KPA workers had resisted attempts by KPA to hire casuals to address the crisis. KPA managing director, Mr Gichiri Ndua, when contacted promised to respond to the allegations today.
Shabharwal in a letter dated August 29, complained that MV Crux loaded with 31,015 of fertilizer took 27 days to discharge its cargo instead of 10 days. The cargo belongs to the Kenya Tea Development Agency.
