Kenyan port authorities are getting on top of congestion problems at the port of Mombassa, a port spokesman has said. Total containers at the port have decreased from 15,000 in January to 10,000 TEU in early March, suggesting the back of the congestion problem has been broken.
Although the spokesman attributed the decrease to improved efficiencies in road deliveries to and from the port, the drop in import and export volumes is probably also playing a significant role, said one of the port’s principal users, who asked to remain anonymous. He said the test would come if import and export volumes increased, but nevertheless the opportunity has been presented to sort out congestion in the port and maintain it that way.
According to the port authority it is moving an average of 900 TEUs by road every 24 hours at present.
Meanwhile the port of Mombassa has reinstated storage charges on rail-bound cargo as from 1 March. The charges were withdrawn last year to assist with easing congestion.
In a related report the port of Mombassa registered a record 1,117 container moves in 24 hours on Wednesday, 4 March, involving the container ship MSC EAGLE. The ship was handled at berth 17 in the container terminal and had earlier recorded 555 container moves in a full shift of eight hours.
Acting terminal manager Sudi Mwasinago described the performance as being way above the agreement between Kenya Ports Authority and the East African Conference Lines to deliver 200 moves in 24 hours. The terminal’s performance contract with the Kenyan government calls for the terminal to attain 136 moves per shift which translates into 408 moves every 24 hours. The previous record was in September 2006 with MSC SUDAN when 1,076 container moves were achieved over a 24-hour period.
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