Mombasa port set for dredging later in the year

By Patrick Beja

Widening and deepening of the port of Mombasa is set to start later in the year.

Dredging of the ship turning basin and berths is meant to accommodate bigger ships at Kenya’s principal seaport.

The Government and Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) have been discussing the plan as shipyards across the globe are reported to be building larger vessels to help the industry save costs.

If Mombasa fails to embrace the idea of deepening and widening the facility, it risks being reduced to a mere feeder port.

The neighbouring port of Djibouti is reported to have a deep berth, while Durban in South Africa also enjoys a better draft.

Port sources put the cost of dredging the port at about Sh4.5 billion.

There was light at the end of the tunnel last week, when KPA Managing Director James Mulewa advertised an international tender for dredging the port. "The authority has engaged the services of M/S Japan Port Consultants to carry out complete surveys and design dredging and ancillary works," said Mulewa.

Mulewa said the tender was for the consequent dredging works.

Larger vessels

The port is to be dredged from 13 metres to 15 metres.

According to shipping experts, ship builders are making vessels with a capacity of upto 10,000 teus (twenty foot equivalent units).

Mombasa can only handle vessels with a maximum capacity of 2,000 teus. And as the dredging of Mombasa port takes shape, the Government focus on development of a second principal port has also turned to Lamu.

This is because Mombasa is nearly filling up its designed capacity of 20 million tonnes. It handles about 16 million tonnes a year.

Recently, Transport Minister Chirau Ali Mwakwere said Lamu port has potential to handle larger vessels.

The proposed Lamu port can serve northern Kenya, Rift Valley, Southern Sudan and Ethiopia, according to Mwakwere.

It is expected that development of Lamu will begin later this year through support of investors.

Lamu port would have a natural draft of about 18 metres, which can accommodate larger vessels without heavy dredging works.