The major development of the Port of Mombasa is underway and once completed, it aims to double its current capacity making it one of Africa’s largest ports.
The first phase which took 4 years to complete, consists of two ship to shore gantries, four rubber tire gantries and a container stacking yard amongst many other essentials. This will allow vessels with the capacity of more than 6,000 TEUs to berth.
Mombasa is one of three areas in Africa that receives Japanese funding for assistance towards developments and is to receive a further $500m for investment in the port.
Japan’s International Cooperation Agency stated: “Japan will assist not only hard infrastructure development, but also technical aspects such as support for smooth customs clearance and the entire maintenance and management of developed infrastructure.”*
The development also consists of access roads, weighbridges and capacity buildings for customs clearance. As well as this, there is also a railway station and four rail mounted gantry cranes to accommodate 750,000 TEUs annually.
The Kenyan Port Authority stated: “Once the entire project is completed it will make the Port of Mombasa the largest port in the region with about 2.5 million TEUs in capacity annually.”
Over two million tons of cargo passed through the port last year, which was a staggering 7.5% increase from 2014, showing how essential this development is to the port and region.
Dongo Kundu, a region of Mombasa, was recently given approval for the development of a special economic zone which hopes to further boost the efficiency of the port.
Phase two of the port development is expected to be completed next year, with the final phase aiming to be completed around 2020.
KENYA, Mombasa: Photograph taken by the Kenyan Ministry of East African Affairs, Commerce and Tourism (MEAACT) 31 July shows a general view of containers inside Mombasa Port on Kenya’s Indian Ocean coast. MANDATORY CREDIT: MEAACT PHOTO / STUART PRICE.
*http://www.joc.com/port-news/international-ports/mombasa-completes-new-t…