​Cruise vessel MS. Westerdam calls Mombasa

Mombasa – August 12,2020

The Port of Mombasa on Wednesday received a cruise ship MS. Westerdam on crew change mission.

The vessel which is owned by one of the biggest cruise liners MS Holland America and Princess Cruises docked at 3 nautical miles outside the Port channel and disembarked 7 members of its crew. Six Kenyans and one Zimbabwean work in the hospitality section on board the ship.

The crew disembarking from the KPA pilot boat.

The crew were received by a KPA pilot boat NAHODHA II which ferried them into the port and disembarked at the Harbour Master’s Control Tower pontoon.

The ships agents MS Sturrock shipping took them to a hotel where they will undergo the mandatory COVID-19 protocols before they proceed to their homes.

This is the closest a cruise ship has come to the Port since the cruise season was curtailed by the outbreak of the COVID-19 global pandemic.

KPA's Principal Corporate Communications Officer Mr.Hajj Masemo briefing the media about cruise tourism at the Control Tower.

KPA together with the Ministry of Tourism has been making concerted efforts to ensure the cruise industry becomes one of the biggest in the tourism sector in line with Kenya’s plan to enhance sustainable exploitation of the Blue Economy.

The cruise vessel MV. Westerdam

In 2017, the Authority led by Hon Najib Balala held a successful meeting with Holland American Cruise lines, in Miami, USA during the world Cruise Convention.  During this meeting, it was agreed that Princess Cruises will bring a vessel to home-port Mombasa, after the completion of the construction of the modern cruise passenger terminal at the Port.

The terminal is now ready to handle vessels and KPA was geared to receive more ships which have since cancelled due to coronavirus. With this gesture and the strengthening of marine security through the formation of Kenya Coast Guard, it is hoped that more ships will call the Port in post- COVID-19.