Longest container ship, MV Kotka, docks at Mombasa Port

The Port of Mombasa has recorded a milestone as the MSC MV Kotka, the longest-ever container ship to grace its shores, docked at the port.

The Liberian registered vessel majestically manoeuvred her way on Thursday, through the calm waters of Kilindini channel sailing at a speed of 11.2 knots.

KOTKA (IMO: 9085534) is a Container Ship built in 1996 (28 years old) and currently sailing under the flag of Liberia.

It has an overall length (LOA) of 318.24 metres, a width of 42.92 metres in breadth and a draft of 9.3 metres. The container carrier has a gross tonnage of 81488 tons, and she is set to load 5,877 containers.

The Port of Mombasa records another milestone after receiving the longest ever container ship MV Kotka (Photo: X/Kenya_Ports)

The vessel will be at the port for two and a half days loading some of the containers, which will be loaded by six ship-to-shore gantry cranes before sailing off to the next port of call.

With a capacity to ship 8,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), MV Kotka has made history as the longest-ever vessel to dock at the port of Mombasa so far.

Sailing from Durban as her last port of call, the container carrier is scheduled for Abu Dhabi from Mombasa.

Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) general manager for cargo operations Sudi Mwasinago said the arrival of the vessel was a major statement to the whole world about the capacity and capabilities of the Port of Mombasa.

“This is a testimony and a testament. It underscores and underpins what the Port of Mombasa is all about in terms of efficiency and capacity. This ship came from Durban in South Africa. After here it will sail to Abu Dhabi,” he said.

He added that the arrival of a vessel of such size is a confirmation to shipping lines that the Mombasa Port can handle extra-ordinarily large vessels.

"This is traffic and revenue for the port. This ship does not just call anywhere. It only calls those ports that are efficient and can handle it and Mombasa is one of them if not the only one in the region,” Mwasinago said.

Ship’s master Captain Gutsol Kostyantyn also received a certificate of first call from Mwasinago and general manager of Corporate Services Edward Kamau.