Mombasa port welcomes two inaugural ships, marking third maiden arrival this week

The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) achieved a historic milestone when two ships arrived in the Port of Mombasa on their maiden trips, making it the third such visit in just one week.

The first vessel, the 282.9-meter-long MT Arctic Tern, moored to dump palm oil products for both local and transit markets.

The MV Jolly Clivia, a 262-metre container ship with a capacity of 4,398 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs), has also arrived at the port. The ship is expected to discharge a variety of cargo for domestic consumption, transit to neighbouring nations, and transhipment to distant regions.

The arrival of these vessels followed the docking of the MV Atlas One, which discharged 1,701 TEUs last Wednesday.

The Port of Mombasa has recently experienced a surge in activity, handling three maiden boats in a single week, highlighting its growing importance as a regional marine hub.

Speaking at the port, Dr Sudi Mwasinago, KPA's General Manager for Cargo Operations, stated that the successful docking of these ships demonstrates the port's growing capacity and efficiency.

"The arrival of these vessels is a clear indication of the Port of Mombasa's increasing appeal as a preferred port of call for international shipping lines," he said, adding that it also reflects KPA's good engagement with other maritime stakeholders.

The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) achieved a historic milestone when two ships arrived in the Port of Mombasa on their maiden trips, making it the third such visit in just one week.

The first vessel, the 282.9-meter-long MT Arctic Tern, moored to dump palm oil products for both local and transit markets.

The MV Jolly Clivia, a 262-metre container ship with a capacity of 4,398 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs), has also arrived at the port. The ship is expected to discharge a variety of cargo for domestic consumption, transit to neighbouring nations, and transhipment to distant regions.

An overview of ships while docked at the Port of Mombasa. Photo: Farhiya Hussein

The arrival of these vessels followed the docking of the MV Atlas One, which discharged 1,701 TEUs last Wednesday.

The Port of Mombasa has recently experienced a surge in activity, handling three maiden boats in a single week, highlighting its growing importance as a regional marine hub.

Speaking at the port, Dr Sudi Mwasinago, KPA's General Manager for Cargo Operations, stated that the successful docking of these ships demonstrates the port's growing capacity and efficiency.

"The arrival of these vessels is a clear indication of the Port of Mombasa's increasing appeal as a preferred port of call for international shipping lines," he said, adding that it also reflects KPA's good engagement with other maritime stakeholders.

Industry analysts have highlighted the Port of Mombasa's strategic role in global trade, notably as a gateway to East and Central Africa.

The recent increase in the number of ships docking at the port is viewed as a positive development for the region's economy, with the potential to expand trade and create jobs.

On Wednesday, MV Atlas One, a Singaporean-flagged container ship discharged 1,701 TEUs and is planned to return to the port every three weeks, significantly improving the port's operational efficiency and capacity and expanding commercial linkages with Asia.

The ship will return to Singapore before sailing to Shanghai, China, and then returning to Mombasa, strengthening a vital trade route that connects East Africa to key Asian markets.

With three new ships arriving in only one week, the KPA is under pressure to maintain operational efficiency and keep the port competitive in the global marine business.

The recent increase in the number of ships docking at the port is viewed as a positive development for the region's economy, with the potential to expand trade and create jobs.

On Wednesday, MV Atlas One, a Singaporean-flagged container ship discharged 1,701 TEUs and is planned to return to the port every three weeks, significantly improving the port's operational efficiency and capacity and expanding commercial linkages with Asia.

The ship will return to Singapore before sailing to Shanghai, China, and then returning to Mombasa, strengthening a vital trade route that connects East Africa to key Asian markets.

With three new ships arriving in only one week, the KPA is under pressure to maintain operational efficiency and keep the port competitive in the global marine business.