The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) has helped Mombasa port to remain the regional hub and the gateway to the East African region by undertaking huge investments that have improved cargo handling efficiency, seeing it emerge as the preferred port.
Container vessels turnaround time made a record improvement of 3.0 days in the third quarter of 2009, the best in the region, from 5.0 days recorded in the same period in 2008.
The average container dwell time is now 6.4 days against 13.1 days in 2008, reflecting an improvement of 51.1 per cent or 6.7 days. This is attributed to enhanced efficiency in port operations due to adequate yard space that has been made possible by a number of measures KPA has undertaken in the recent past.
Since 2001, KPA, which was recently ISO 9001-2008 certified embarked on automation programme which has played a key role in addressing the problem of port congestion by enabling faster clearance of the cargo.
In 2002, Enterprise Resource Planning System went live and since then, a lot has been achieved in the field of IT. In 2005, KPA contracted a Southern Korean firm- Total Soft Bank (TSB) - which developed Kilindini waterfront operating system (Kwatos), which has now automated all the cargo handling operations.
The programme went live last year and has effectively addressed ship and yard planning, traffic, warehouse and general information management.
KPA has also implemented Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) in transmission of manifest from shipping lines. The authority has implemented the gate pass module thus streamlining security control of cargo and vehicular flow.
Kwatos is now fully linked to Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) Simba System, which has reduced the number of days required to clear the cargo from the port. The final stage of the automation, Community Based System, will be implemented by 2010 and will make all the port operations paperless.
Commonwealth Secretariat is assisting the government of Kenya to implement this project that will enable the port community to share information on a common platform online.
Apart from automation of the cargo handling operations, the efficiency at the port is also attributed to entrenchment of 24/7 working schedule that was embraced in last year and use of more Container Freight Stations (CFS’s) that handle over 11,000 Teus outside the port thus freeing the port’s yard.
Recent investments in modern cargo handling equipment and business process re-engineering have resulted in remarkable growth and improved performance in port operations that has enabled the port to deal with the growing cargo volumes.
The total freight handled by the port of Mombasa rose by 2.8 per cent from 15.96 million tons in 2007 to 16.42 million tons 2008. Total transit cargo rose from 4.4 million tons in 2007 to 4.8 million tons in 2008.
This is a manifestation of increasing usage of the port by the region and a sign of the improved regional economic performance owing to the prevailing peace. Our forecast displays tendencies of continued growth albeit at a slower pace this time due to the current global recession.
Between January and September 2009, the port has witnessed further improved operational performance and an increase in Port throughput. The Port handled a total cargo throughput of 13.7 million tons compared with 12.1 million tons realized in the corresponding period in 2008; reflecting a significant increase of 1.67 million tons or 13.9 per cent.
Recently, in the spirit of keeping pace with developments and address rising costs in maritime trade, KPA made some Tariff Adjustments which culminated in the removal of scanning and verification charges, among other minor adjustments with effect from 1st October this year.
To address the cargo traffic which is expected to reach over 30 million tonnes by 2030 compared to 16 million tonnes handled in last year, KPA has embarked on a number of measures.
The construction of the second container terminal by the support from Japan is expected to create an additional capacity of 1.2 Teus. The port is also dredging the channel to accommodate bigger ships currently in manufacture by ship makers.
KPA through private sector partnership intends to establish a Free Trade Zone at Dongo Kundu, create more oil handling capacity among other flag ship projects.
The port has improved safety of the port in compliance with the ISPS code. The port is implementing an integrated security system which will address access, controls, surveillance and detection, among others.
This is hoped to contain terrorists’ activities, pilferage and general crime in and around the port.
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