New terminal at Mombasa in offing
THE Kenyan government is to construct a new container terminal at Mombasa to decongest the port and ease cargo movement along the Northern Corridor.
By Mikaili Sseppuya
THE Kenyan government is to construct a new container terminal at Mombasa to decongest the port and ease cargo movement along the Northern Corridor.
William Mtengo, the KPA resident representative, said the Kenyan and Japanese governments had already signed the agreement for a loan of Ksh16b to fund the project that will have the capacity to handle 1.2 million 10-foot containers.
“The terminal should be operational by 2013 and will be done together with the dredging of the port channel to enable KPA serve fourth generation vessels, which are bigger, deeper and need deep water to berth.â€
He said the Government had also introduced more efficient initiatives to improve off-take of cargo from the port, including a 24-hour working schedule, the introduction of container freight stations concept and privatisation of weigh-bridge management.
Mtengo said the Government was doing this to keep abreast with trends in the maritime industry and to satisfy customers needs.
“Ports that will survive are those that have a well established logistic platform that enables users to communicate and cut on the cost of doing business.
“It is for this reason that the Government has given priority to the transport sector in the country. Roads are being constructed after years of neglect,†Mtengo said, adding that the Government would open an alternative port in Lamu to serve Ethiopia, Somalia and southern Sudan.
“This will open up the area to trade.â€
THE Kenyan government is to construct a new container terminal at Mombasa to decongest the port and ease cargo movement along the Northern Corridor.
William Mtengo, the KPA resident representative, said the Kenyan and Japanese governments had already signed the agreement for a loan of Ksh16b to fund the project that will have the capacity to handle 1.2 million 10-foot containers.
“The terminal should be operational by 2013 and will be done together with the dredging of the port channel to enable KPA serve fourth generation vessels, which are bigger, deeper and need deep water to berth.â€
He said the Government had also introduced more efficient initiatives to improve off-take of cargo from the port, including a 24-hour working schedule, the introduction of container freight stations concept and privatisation of weigh-bridge management.
Mtengo said the Government was doing this to keep abreast with trends in the maritime industry and to satisfy customers needs.
“Ports that will survive are those that have a well established logistic platform that enables users to communicate and cut on the cost of doing business.
“It is for this reason that the Government has given priority to the transport sector in the country. Roads are being constructed after years of neglect,†Mtengo said, adding that the Government would open an alternative port in Lamu to serve Ethiopia, Somalia and southern Sudan.
“This will open up the area to trade.â€