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The Kenya Ports Authority says the ambitious, multi-billion shilling facility modernisation programme has significantly improved the performance of the Port of Mombasa.
As of July, the port’s container traffic exceeded 1 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), a milestone that highlights the effectiveness of recent upgrades.
KPA Managing Director Captain William Ruto attributed the improved performance of the port to the expansion of major berths and acquisition of modern equipment.
“Container traffic exceeded 1 million TEUs in July this year, indicating that we are on track to achieve our annual target of 1.8 million TEUs,” he said.
From January to June this year, the cargo throughput of the Port of Mombasa reached 19.75 million tons, an increase of 9% over the same period in 2023.
Container traffic also grew significantly, with 948,983 TEUs handled during the period, up from 783,125 TEUs in 2023.
To improve efficiency, KPA recently purchased four new rubber-tyred gantry cranes worth $8.5 million (Shs1.1 billion).
These advanced cranes have a safe working load capacity of 45 tonnes and are equipped with fuel-efficient engines to improve cargo handling and vessel turnaround times.
“The arrival of the new cranes will increase the efficiency of cargo dwell time, thereby improving vessel turnaround,” Ruto said.
Last year, KPA introduced four quay cranes that can handle two containers at a time, enhancing the port’s competitiveness.
Since KPA initiated the equipment upgrade program, the Port of Mombasa currently has more than 50 rubber-tyred gantry cranes and 16 quay cranes.
The second container terminal is equipped with 6 quay cranes and 20 rubber-tyred gantry cranes, while the first container terminal is equipped with 4 new quay cranes.
KPA also plans to improve efficiency by procuring more reachstackers, 10 RTGs and 20 terminal tractors.
KPA’s modernization efforts extend to the newly operational Lamu Port, which recently installed three advanced shore-to-shore gantry cranes at a cost of US$31.5 million.
These cranes are expected to make Lamu a significant player in the regional transshipment business.
Captain Ruto highlighted the advanced technology and performance of the cranes which have made Lamu Port a global maritime hub.
“These cranes are capable of lifting modern vessels of more than 18,000 TEUs and are able to withstand the high winds in Lamu Port, so they will be a game changer for the entire port,” he said.
Since becoming operational in 2021, Lamu Port has handled 59 vessels, with a significant increase in cargo and container traffic.
In 2023, the port handled 37,576 tonnes of cargo, up from 6,539 tonnes in 2022. Its container throughput was 1,779 TEUs, a significant increase from 382 TEUs in 2022.
These advances highlight the key role of Lamu Port in regional trade and economic growth, making it an essential component of the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport Corridor project.
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