Treasury CS Yattani upbeat on Lamu Port
Lamu – August
22, 2021
The National Treasury and Planning Cabinet
Secretary Amb. Ukur Yattani has reiterated the government’s commitment to
position the new Port of Lamu as the preferred choice for transshipment cargo.
He urged global shipping lines to continue
maximizing on the benefits of the port which is developed to modern standards
at par with the most contemporary and best performing ports in the world.

MV Seago Piraeus assisted by KPA tugboats
The CS made the remarks on Saturday at the Port of
Lamu when he led shipping fraternity in according a tumultuous reception for
Maersk container vessel MV Seago Piraeus on her maiden call at the port.
“This port is capable of comfortably docking
panamax and post panamax vessels with a capacity of over 10,000 TEUs. We are
encouraging shipping lines to bring vessels to this strategically located
facility,” he added.

Treasury and Planning Cabinet
Secretary Amb. Ukur Yattani addressing the media.
He announced that the government will in the next
few days send delegations to Ethiopia and South Sudan to market the facility.
The CS lauded the progress registered so far in
improvement of infrastructure including the construction of the Garissa -Lamu
road noting that the section from
Lamu-Garsen- Malindi was complete making it possible for transport of cargo
from Lamu to the rest of the country and beyond.
He at the same time expressed satisfaction saying that
with the construction of the Port, Lamu had already started witnessing positive
socio-economic benefits including emergence of new businesses and creation of
job opportunities.
MV Seago Piraeus is now the third commercial vessel
and the fifth ship to dock at the Port since it was operationalized on May 20
this year. The ship which arrived from the Port of Salalah in Oman, discharged
100 TEUs at Lamu Port for onward transshipment to Zanzibar.
The container vessel captained by Birger Frank Nielsen has a registered length overall
(LOA)of 294.1 meters and is undisputedly
the largest ship to dock at the new port.

MV Seago Piraeus Master Captain Birger Frank Nielsen meets KPA Acting Managing Director Amb. John Mwangemi and National Treasury and Planning CS Amb.Ukur Yattani.
KPA Acting Managing Director Amb. John Mwangemi who
accompanied the CS said the evolution of the Port of Lamu is the result of a
bold move by the government to plan and ensure that as a country “we are not
saddled by the challenges of over reliance on the Port of Mombasa with all its constraints.”
He said the port as planned will not only serve the
transshipment market, but all kinds of cargo destined for the hinterland and
transit markets.
“The Port of Lamu will eventually be connected by
road and rail all the way through the Central Africa to Cameroon thus joining the
two Oceans through the middle of Africa,” he added.

The ship's captain Birger Frank Nielsen displays the certificate of first call as he poses for a group photo with Treasury CS Amb. Ukur Yattani, KPA Acting Managing Director Amb. John Mwangemi and officials of Maersk shipping line.
Addressing the media during the function, KRA
Commissioner for Customs and Border Control Ms. Lillian Nyawanda, commended the
partnership between KPA, KRA, Port Health and other government agencies saying
it had hastened clearance of cargo and made the port competitive.
She said all necessary border control measures are
in place including the electronic geo-fencing of the Lamu-Garissa-Isiolo-Moyale
transit route to ensure tracking of all transit cargo to secure the goods from
theft and acts of smuggling.