Dredging: Bigger ships docking at Mombasa port

By Philip Mwakio

Mombasa port has started receiving larger vessels after the successful dredging of its channel and turning basin.

Mid last week, a container vessel laden with 3000 TEU (20 foot equivalent) docked at the port and registered a record performance of 33 gross moves per 24 hours using three ships to shore gantry cranes at the close of first shift last Friday.

Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) Head of Corporate Affairs Benard Osero said the vessel christened MSC Jade, a fully cellular ship with a gross registered tonnage of 36,517 tonnes and length overall of 241 metres and a draft of 11.9 metres went alongside berth 18 last Wednesday.

She sailed out on Sunday having discharged and loaded a total of 1,693 containers.

" The ship owned by the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) is so far the largest to sail into the Kilindini channel, which has been dredged to a depth of minus 15.0 metres in the inner channel with a width of 300 metres in the narrowest point,’’ Osero said.

He added that the turning basin has also been dredged to a depth of minus 15.0 metres and widened to 500 metres.

‘‘The call by the ship is a clear indicator of the benefits set to be realised at the port of Mombasa on completion of the ongoing dredging by the end of this month,’’ Osero said.

ahead of schedule

Previously, the port has been accommodating ships with an average length of 200 metres and 2000 TEUs capacity.

‘‘The port will now handle bigger ships with over 4500 TEUs,’’ Osero explained.

This week, Osero said, a second larger vessel is scheduled to go alongside to berth. The vessel, MSC Roberta, with an length overall of 244 metres is expected to discharge 1,712 TEUs and load another 3,950 TEUs.

Dredging work, which is being carried out by Dutch company, Van Oord Dredging and Marine Contractors, is due for completion this month, four months ahead of schedule. ‘‘The contractor is finalising the cleaning and dumping of the dredged material following completion of physical dredging,’’ Osero said.

The port will now handle bigger ships with over 4500 TEUs after the dredging is completed.

Osero said although the dredging was initially meant to provide capacity for the second container terminal whose construction has begun, great benefits are bound to be witnessed even at the current Mombasa container terminal.