DETAILED designs for the eagerly awaited 1.2 m TEU capacity second Mombasa container terminal are due for completion next Month (June).
This will pave way for actual construction works for the new terminal, west of Kipevu at a total cost of Kshs. 16 Billion. The project which on completion will make Mombasa a hub port is being financed through bilateral soft loans from the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA). The new terminal which will double port’s handling capacity will have its first phase fully operational by 2013 and will handle 450,000 TEUs.
Kenya Ports Authority has witnessed increased growth in container traffic over the years hence the need to establish a second facility to meet the demand. In 2009, the port handled a record 618,816 TEUs.
The new facility will be operated by a private concessionaire hence brings about competition. This will enhance efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery at the port of Mombasa.
The main container terminal handling equipment such as ship-to-shore gantry cranes and rubber tyred gantry cranes among others will be provided by the Japanese as part of the loan agreement.
Other facilities in the project include the extension of the rail line that currently serves the Mombasa container terminal, building of a new access road and installation of new buoys and markers in the maritime access channels.
To cope with the continuing container growth before the second terminal enters service, Kenya Ports Authority also plans to upgrade and covert berths 11 - 14 to another container terminal and offer it on a concessionary basis to a private operator. Currently, ships use their own gear to load and offload containers.
This additional capacity will help to attract transshipment traffic and target to act as a feeder point for Seychelles, Mauritius, Madagascar and Zanzibar.
At the same time, an additional berth 19 will be constructed at the main container terminal to handle container vessels. KPA is in the tendering stage to dredge the channel and widen the turning basin to allow the latest generation of container ships.
19TH MAY, 2010.
PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT
For further information, please contact Public Relations Office, Tel: +254 41 2112393/ 2112228/2112345. Email: pr@kpa.co.ke. Website: www.kpa.co.ke