KPA Hiring as Ksh310 Billion Lamu Port Roars to Life, First Ship to Dock This Week

President Uhuru Kenyatta will on Tuesday May 18, 2021, launch the Ksh310 billion Lamu Port, as the country positions itself as a major regional economic hub.

The first ship is expected to dock at the port this week. MV CAP Carmel, a 204 metre-long cargo ship from Denmark-based shipping company Maersk will dock at the port with cargo from Dar es Salaam destined for Salalah Port, Oman.

MV Seago Bremen Haven, will follow, loaded with avocados from Mombasa, and will be flagged off from the Lamu Port by President Kenyatta.

Coast Regional Commissioner John Elungata and the Regional Development Implementation Coordination Committee inspect the Lamu Port on May 17, 2021. |Courtesy| TV47|

Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) official captain Geoffrey Namadoa stated that the MV CAP Carmel is geared and is able to load and offload cargo itself minus the aid of a crane.

"According to the manifest, we expect to handle 100 containers on the first day in Lamu Port, which will be used to test local road connectivity," Namadoa stated.

"Lamu Port is strategically positioned and will give competition to already developed ports such as Durban," he added.

The port-which will mainly focus on transshipment, has been completed at a time where other ports in the region are undergoing repair and will address the demand in the East African region.

KPA has already assigned 70 staff to the port, with 100 more to be recruited within the week.

"The necessary operational systems, including ICT, and equipment have also been put in place. We have also seen other agencies, Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) and Immigration- deploy their staff and all their systems are in place," Lamu Port Generall Manager Abdullahi Samatar stated.

He noted that everything, including security measures and how to handle first vessels is in place.

Reports indicate that 19 shipping companies have already visited the port and are ready to use the facility.

"Outside transshipment we are targeting Southern Ethiopia and South Sudan as main customers and that is why we are working on a number of connecting roads to the two countries,"Samatar said.

The Lamu Port will compliment the Mombasa Port, strategically positioning Kenya as East Africa's major shipping hub.

Coast Regional Commissioner John Elungata and the Regional Development Implementation Coordination Committee today, May 17, inspected the Lamu Port ahead of President Kenyatta's visit.

Coast Regional Commissioner John Elungata and the Regional Development Implementation Coordination Committee inspect the Lamu Port on May 17, 2021. |Courtesy| TV47|