Kenya: MV World Odyssey has returned to the Port of Mombasa. It has brought enthusiastic international students with it, who are ready to explore the rich tourism, culture, and wildlife of Kenya.
Popularly known as the ‘Semester at Sea’ the vessel arrived from Cochin, India, marking its sixth visit to Mombasa, and is carrying 609 students and 183 crew members. Onboard are also three Kenyans one student and two lecturers.
Over the next six days, the floating campus will remain docked at Mombasa as students engage in immersive learning experiences. They will explore Kenya through firsthand encounters with its diverse wildlife and vibrant cultural heritage.
Cruise tourism has also emerged as the fastest growing segment in the global travel industry, offering an extensive variety of experiences. At the Port of Mombasa, cruise vessel numbers have continued to rise, and promises an even better future for the tourism segment in the country.
Along with this, Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) and global shipping line Maersk have agreed to strengthen their partnership in a move that aims at streamlining operations and boosting supply chain efficiency across the region.
During a meeting at the port, Maersk’s Eastern Africa Managing Director – Tito Okuku, and his team expressed the growing interest of the shipping line in identifying new opportunities, as their business continues to expand in the region.
One major area of focus for Maersk is increasing the use of the Naivasha Inland Container Depot. The facility, is seen as a strategic hub for handling Kenya’s fresh produce exports, offering exporters a faster and more reliable route to international markets.
The pronouncement was well received by KPA Managing Director – Capt. William Ruto, who described the timing of the enhanced cooperation as ideal. He pointed out that both the Port of Mombasa and its supporting inland facilities are seeing a steady rise in cargo volumes.
Capt. Ruto assured the Maersk team that KPA is ready and prepared to handle the growing demand. He highlighted several ongoing initiatives, that aims at upgrading infrastructure and improving service delivery by reaffirming KPA’s ability to efficiently handle increasing trade volumes.