Finally, expansion of Mombasa port begins

By PATRICK BEJA

Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) has embarked on its flagship projects aligned to the Government's Vision 2030 development initiative so as to enhance operational efficiency.

The Authority is to spend more than Sh10 billion to widen and deepen the channel and ship-turning basin in Mombasa.

It would also start the construction of container berth number 19.

Already, one of the two dredging ships has arrived at the port while the other would arrive next week for the exercise that would allow bigger ships to dock at the port and make the facility more competitive.

The dredging that would take about one and a half years would cost about Sh5.2 billion.

A Dutch firm, Van Oord Dredging and Marine Contractors, has embarked on the rare exercise after winning the international tender recently. "Dredging of the port would allow in bigger ships which would ensure economies of scale in transportation of cargo.

The dredged channel would also ensure ships do not wait for tides at certain times of the day and help utilize berths more efficiently," KPA managing director Mr Gichiri Ndua said.

While welcoming the efforts to modernize the port, Kenya International Freight and Warehousing Association (Kifwa) national chairman Mr Awiti Bolo said there was need to fully embrace 24-hour port working schedule.

He said night banking services should be available to facilitate payment of duties by port users.

"We welcome plans to extend banking hours because this will enhance the 24 hour port working time," Bolo said.

The marine firm has deployed two vessels to dig up the Kilindini channel to accommodate huge ships. Operations have been planned with shipping lines to avoid interruptions during the dredging period, Ndua explained.

Ndua said the dredging would ran concurrently with the construction of container berth number 19 to provide additional cargo capacity.

The berth is estimated to cost about Sh5 billion and would be ready in two years time.

Ndua explained that the berth would accommodate larger vessels.

KPA expects to receive two mobile harbour cranes and three ship-to-ship gantry cranes by August this year to boost cargo handling.

Ndua said negotiations were on for the construction of a second container terminal.

The project to cost about Sh24 billion has received funding from Japan. It is expected to create 1.3 million Twenty foot Equivalent (Teus) capacity and is expected to provide space for cargo delivered by the anticipated bigger vessels.