Kenya: MV Derby D makes maiden call at Lamu Port and will boost the trans-shipment prospects. The vessel made her inaugural call in a significant boost to consider Kenya’s maritime sector after departing from Port of Mombasa at 10:00 a.m.
The vessel was set to load 371 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) of trans-shipment cargo destined for Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, before setting sail tomorrow morning.
Managing Director of the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) – Captain William Ruto piloted the CMA-CGM vessel which was also registering the maiden call. The event highlighted the strategic importance of the Port of Lamu in enhancing the regional trade connectivity. It was majorly developed under the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor project, the Port of Lamu is designed to serve as a critical trans-shipment hub for East and Central Africa.
The Port boasts berths that are 400 meters long and a depth of up to 17.5 meters which allows it to accommodate larger vessels as compared to the Port of Mombasa, whose berths average 300 meters in length and 15 meters in depth.
Captain William Ruto emphasized the potential of the port and stated that the arrival of MV Derby D demonstrates the global shipping lines which are recognising Lamu as a viable alternative for regional trade.
He stated, “We expect more vessels to follow as we continue positioning Lamu as a key gateway for East and Central Africa.”
Notably, the major focus of the KPA’s is on Lamu Port which came at a time of global shipping disruptions, that aims to position it as a premier trans-shipment hub. The strategic location of the port and its capacity to handle the larger vessels offer a competitive advantage in attracting trans-shipment traffic.
The recently conquered milestones, such as the docking of MV Hong Kong Bridge with 371 TEUs of cargo are bounded for Dar es Salaam which further highlighted Lamu Port’s growing role in the regional trade.
Lamu Port continues to operationalize its facilities, for which KPA is actively engaging with the shipping lines to bolster the utilization of the port. The integration of Lamu Port into the regional maritime network is expected to enhance trade efficiency and economic growth in the selected region.
Meanwhile, the Master of MV Derby D Captain – Chernov Pavel heaped praises on the Port of Lamu facility and described it as a suitable handle larger carrier. According to the officials, the Port is a great infrastructure, I am impressed and I am looking forward to coming back again.
Pavel spoke after receiving certificate of First call and a Plaque from the General Manager of Lamu Port – Eng. Vincent Sidai, on behalf of the Managing Director Captain William Ruto. The brief ceremony at the quay apron is a customary tradition for maiden callers and he was flanked by the Chief Officer Khaia Dmitrii.