The second container terminal at the Port of Mombasa is handling 40 percent of cargo destined to Kenya through the Indian Ocean and has helped decongest the port.
The newly constructed container terminal two handles 40 percent of cargo equivalent to 450,000 teus at the port of Mombasa. This is attributed to installation of the intelligent gates system at the facility that has enhanced cargo clearance.
In a bid to improve the efficiency of port operations, KPA is procuring a range of new equipment to better handle the increase in general and containerized cargo at the country’s second commercial seaport after the port of Mombasa.
According to KPA containers operations manager Simon Wahome, the Authority has invested heavily on port expansion projects that have greatly improved efficiency and boosted capacity at the port of Mombasa.
He said “the improved infrastructure projects have helped alleviate port congestion that have plagued businesses and enhanced container traffic at the port.”
The joint monitoring center at the Inland Container Terminal in Nairobi has also made it easier for container tracking at the facility from the Port of Mombasa.
According to the Manager of the Inland Container Depot Nairobi (ICD) Paul Bor, the facility handled a total of 433,678 Twenty Foot Equivalent (TEUs) in 2021 compared to 393,152 during the previous year.
Bor attributed the improved performance to the facility’s spacious yard that can handle a container throughput of over 450,000 TEUs per annum making it ideal for shippers of both exports and imports.
Exporters are increasingly opting to ship out fresh produce cargo driving up demand for cargo clearance at the Inland Container Terminal in Nairobi for shipping via the Port of Mombasa.
KPA heads of communications Benard Osero says the first three of the 32 berth Lamu Port are complete with the Kenya Ports Authority now focusing on expansion of storage sheds.
Eleven vessels have checked on the Port of Lamu Port since its launch with port officials optimistic of operations picking up as the world recovers from Covid-19 disruptions
Completion of the construction of Isiolo-Moyale road is expected to boost cargo handling at the Port of Lamu.