Boost For Kenya As Importers Dump Tanzania Port For Mombasa
Mombasa Port is reportedly experiencing significant benefits following the suspension by the Tanzanian Ports Authority of loose cargo bagging at the Dar es Salaam Port because of congestion.
Importers chose to reroute their shipment to Kenya as an alternative to decrease the amount of time spent waiting in Tanzania.
As per the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA), suspending the packaging of unpackaged cargo will aid in diminishing the duration spent waiting at the outer anchorage.
“Due to the current line-up (sic) of vessels at the outer anchorage waiting for berthing, we wish to inform you that bagging of cargo inside the port will be temporarily suspended to evacuate and reduce waiting time at outer anchorage,” reads the letter.
Djibouti’s ports in the region, alongside ports in South Africa, were noted to face significant congestion. However, the South African ports specifically instructed ships to dock at Durban.
Gomet.com, an internet-based platform monitoring port congestion in real-time, forecasted that ships arriving at Dar es Salaam could encounter delays of up to 16 days. Meanwhile, Mombasa has reported the lengthiest port turn-around time of just one day.
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Captain William Ruto, the Managing Director of Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), mentioned that the Mombasa port is set to receive over 25 containers of cargo within the upcoming fortnight.
“We have seen an increase in Traffic of ships since some regional ports experienced inefficiency, “Captain Ruto noted.
KPA reassured importers that they had the capability to manage their ships due to recent investments made at terminal 2 of the port.
“We prioritized efficiency, eliminated waiters, and reduced ship turnaround time, making it attractive to shipping lines,” Ruto added.
In May 2023, the World Bank rated Dar es Salaam Port as the foremost choice, surpassing Mombasa Port in efficiency and becoming the preferred route for shippers.
In 2022, the Container Port Performance Index placed Mombasa Port at the 326th position out of 348 evaluated ports globally, trailing behind other ports in the eastern African region.
Boost For Kenya As Importers Dump Tanzania Port For Mombasa
