PRESS RELEASE
NEW CONTAINER TERMINAL BERTHS FIRST VESSEL
THE second Mombasa Container Terminal successfully berthed its maiden vessel yesterday (Monday) marking the inauguration of operations at the new facility.
Container vessel MV. Busan Trader with a length overall of 210 metres graciously sailed into the Kilindini channel to make history alongside berth No.21 at 1625 Hrs. The berth has a straight quay length of 300 metres. The vessel’s first sling (first container) was recorded at 1730 HRS moving on to close with 250 Twenty Feet Equivalent Units (TEUs) at the end of second shift at 2300HRS.
The CMA-CGM shipping line vessel has a total capacity of 2664 TEUs and had declared a draft of 11 metres on arrival. She was laden with 1868 TEUs and was scheduled to discharge 934 TEUs and load a similar number on her return voyage. Her last port of call was in the United Arab Emirates and was expected to sail to Mogadishu port, Somalia upon completion. CMA-CGM is one of the few shipping lines with direct calls to Somalia.
Two Ship to Shore Gantries, four Rubber Tyred Gantries and 14 terminal tractors were deployed to the vessel for ship and yard operations. She is expected to complete working within the first shift on Wednesday.
According to CMA-CGM operations Manager Mr. Rajeeve Fernando who was at hand to receive the vessel, the ship was on her second call to the port of Mombasa. He expressed satisfaction with the facilitation for the docking process by the Kenya Ports Authority. “We at CMA-CGM are very delighted and honoured to have been accorded the priority to berth the first vessel at the new container terminal” he added.
And today (Tuesday) the Principal Secretary for Transport and Infrastructure Irungu Nyakera accompanied by the KPA Board Chairman Major (Rtd) Marsden Madoka and the acting Managing Director Ms. Catherine Mturi-Wairi witnessed the ongoing operations . The PS commended the Authority for kick-starting operations at the new state of the art container terminal. He was impressed by the facility which he said should be put into maximum use to enhance efficiency in cargo handling.
The new container terminal was handed over to the Kenya Ports Authority by the Japanese contractor, TOYO recently. The first phase, comprises berths No.20 and 21 measuring 250m and 300m respectively and a small berth. Also under this phase was the procurement of two Ship to Shore gantries and four Rubber Tyred Gantries and construction of a container stacking yard on a 35 acre reclaimed area. The draft of the new terminal is minus 15m alongside the berths capable of berthing of fourth generation vessels of above 6000 TEU capacity. The facility has an annual capacity of 550,000 TEUs.
During the handover ceremony Ms. Wairi noted that KPA was committed to putting the facility into maximum use for best performance and satisfaction of its customers. She urged KPA employees to make the terminal a model one for the region with best practices in yard marking, ship and yard planning, cleanliness, safety and traffic flow. She also announced plans by the Government to officially commission the terminal early soon.
Ends
Corporate Affairs Department
Kenya Ports Authority
MOMBASA
26th April 2016
Tel. 041 211 3416
