The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) has announced the arrival of the vessel MV Zhen Hua 24, transporting the three Ship to Shore Gantry cranes (STSs) for the Port of Lamu. The vessel ship arrived safely at the port on Sunday morning, April 07, 2024.
Chinese vessel MV Zhen Hua 24 berthed at the 2nd berth of Port of Lamu around 10:00 a.m. on Sunday morning, where the cranes were expected to boost the operations at the second commercial port of Kenya.
Earlier, before the arrival of the Chinese vessel, Managing Director (MD) of Kenya Ports Authority – Captain William Ruto said that the equipment are expected to increase the transhipment business in Port of Lamu.
Captain Ruto also said, “With the new ship-to-shore cranes arriving in Lamu, we expect to see a paradigm shift completely in terms of handling the transhipment cargo at the port.”
Ruto spoke up at the Kenya Ports Authority headquarters in Mombasa after he handed over the food donations which were worth of Sh1.5 million, especially to Muslim or Islamic communities in Mombasa. The food will also be donated to the places such as Kwale and Lamu.
The KPA Managing Director expressed that the Mombasa port has seen growth in transhipment business that owed to inefficiency which is experienced in neighbouring ports and the security threats along the Red Sea.
Captain Ruto added further that right now among the troops they are handling, 30% to 40% troops are arising from the inefficiency from other ports and is arising in the Red Sea too. He pointed out that what is happening in the Red Sea maybe bad but it is also a blessing to the port of Mombasa.
After the arrival of Chinese vessel MV Zhen Hua 24 at the Lamu Port they are also expecting another shipment of bulk cargo which will receive soon.
Wiliam Ruto said that the port continues to attract interest from the neighbouring countries such as Ethiopia and South Sudan who are already showing commitment towards using the port of Lamu to import their cargo.
He stated further, “We recently had a meeting with the Ethiopian government that showed keen interest in using the Lamu port because of the emerging Red Sea issues. Our Neighbours including South Sudan have also expressed their interest.”
As per the sources, MD Ruto with the KPA board of management chairman Benjamin Tayari has inspected the LAPSET Corridor route from Lamu to Moyale in early March to see progress of the construction and the status of the road.
A survey was conducted in which the two were briefed by the Lamu Garissa – Isiolo Road project management team, on the progress, challenges and expected completion period of the project.
Considerably, the LAPSET Corridor is a crucial infrastructure project that will provide the requisite connectivity and seamless transport to the port of Lamu for the transit markets of Ethiopia and South Sudan.
Talking about the project, Captain William Ruto said that three weeks ago, a road survey was conducted with the chairman from Mombasa to Moyale, where he reported that the government has done great in terms of security.
He mentioned that there is a small section of road between Isiolo and Garissa, but the contractor is already on sight to tarmac the road.
During the tour, the two also visited the Moyale One Stop Border Post (OSPB) and has interacted with truck drivers transporting raw materials for the apparel industry from the port of Mombasa to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia by using the Isiolo-Moyale road.