Port of Mombasa attracts new global shipping line

MOMBASA : The Port of Mombasa is attracting global shipping lines as a result of its efficiency with a leading Korean shipping line docking at the port on its first voyage in Africa.

Korea Marine Transport Company (KMTC) run vessel, MV KMTC Hochiminh, has a length of 222.10M and cargo capacity of 2824 (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit) TEU.

The vessel is carrying 1000 TEUs for the local and transit market, affirming the strategic position of the Port as a shipping and maritime hub and a preferred Port of Call for shipping lines.

The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) Managing Director (MD), Capt. William Ruto, extolled KMTC for having confidence in the Port of Mombasa, and for choosing it as the first Port of Call in Africa.

“KMTC has been venturing too much in Asia and it’s the first time they are venturing into Africa. They have given us confidence that the ship will be a regular caller. We promise efficiency and whatever services that we will be offering them,” said Capt. Ruto.

He added that KMTC had brought new business to KPA and will endeavour to attract more shipping lines.

“We promise to give them the best services because for any shipping line to decide to call into a port, they must have also done due diligence.

“Part of the due diligence, is how long will the ship be waiting, like this ship just arrived today and we gave a priority and it docks on arrival, thus reducing cost on the shipping line and to the receivers of the cargos,” stated Capt. Ruto.

On his part, KPA Chairman, Benjamin Tayari, noted that the Port is working efficiently led by the management. Last year, he said, the port volume surged by 12 per cent, recording 1.6M TEUs.

“We expect more vessels to be calling to the port of Mombasa, which shows business is growing in Kenya. We will be purchasing modern equipment,” said the KPA Chairman.

The vessel agent Rais Shipping Services General Manager (GM), Mayur Udyawar, said they expect more vessels from the shipping line to call on the Port of Mombasa in the future.

The vessel’s last port of call was China and the next port of call will be Dar es Salaam after Mombasa.

“It’s a new service started by KMTC, it’s because of the confidence of the line in the region and the sea potential in Africa, that’s why they have started this new service. We expect good things to come for Africa,” said the GM Udyawar, adding that the port facilities impressed the vessel.