Ports authority seeks to speed up cargo clearance in Mombasa
Kenya Ports Authority managing director Gichiri Ndua (left) before the Public Investment Committee in Parliament, Nairobi, on July 3, 2014. Ndua said they intend to reduce ship working time to two days from next year as the authority battles to win back transporters who have chosen Dar-es-salaam port in the recent past. PHOTO | SALATON NJAU |
What you need to know:
- Authority managing director Gichiri Ndua said they intend to reduce ship working time to two days from next year as the authority battles to win back transporters who have chosen Dar-es-salaam port in the recent past.
- Several studies have indicated that inefficiencies and high cost at the facility have seen several importers opt for Tanzania and by extension using the Central Corridor at the expense of the northern counterpart.
- The number of vessels docking in Mombasa between January to November 2014 went up by 51 to hit 1,691 up from 1,620 last year which KPA attributes to efficiency improvements.
The Kenya Ports Authority is seeking to reduce cargo dwell time at Mombasa from the current four days to two days beginning January in an effort to win over traders who have opted for rival facilities.
Authority managing director Gichiri Ndua said they intend to reduce ship working time to two days from next year as the authority battles to win back transporters who have chosen Dar-es-salaam port in the recent past.
“This will be made possible by raising containerised traffic to 15 moves per hour…the measures will be implemented from January next year,” Mr Ndua said in KPA’s 2014 score card.
The authority and agencies handling cargo at the port have been under pressure from the Jubilee Government to improve its efficiency and increase the pace of goods movement along the Northern Corridor.
DWELL TIME REDUCED
By June, the Mombasa Port dwell time -average number of days it takes cargo to leave the port terminal from the time it is off-loaded from the vessel - was recorded at 3.7 days from 5.8 in 2013.
Several studies have indicated that inefficiencies and high cost at the facility have seen several importers opt for Tanzania and by extension using the Central Corridor at the expense of the northern counterpart.
Mr Ndua said construction of phase one of the second container terminal-that is expected to significantly boost the port’s vessels handling capacity- is 65 per cent complete.
“The new unit has a capacity of 15,000 standard 20-foot containers (TEU) annually and we expect to witness additional handling volume,” he said.
A report by the Shippers council in September said that traders based in Kigali, Bujumbura and Goma are opting for the Dar due to cost considerations.
It said importers pay less to move goods through Tanzania’s Central Corridor than from Mombasa port through Kenya’s Northern Corridor.
The number of vessels docking in Mombasa between January to November 2014 went up by 51 to hit 1,691 up from 1,620 last year which KPA attributes to efficiency improvements.
