The Port of Mombasa celebrated a significant milestone on February 29th as it welcomed the MV Lotka Koa, the longest cargo vessel ever to grace its docks.
Operated by the Mediterranean Shipping Company, this Liberian ship stretches an impressive 318 meters in length and spans 42.9 meters in width, mirroring the expanse of three soccer pitches.
Arriving from Durban, the MV Lotka Koa docked at Terminal One on Thursday morning with 400 empty containers aboard.
Its massive capacity, boasting 8,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (Teus), positions it to pick up approximately 5,877 containers from berths 16 and 17, effectively alleviating congestion within the Kenyan port.
This historic arrival surpasses the previous record set in April 2018 by the MV MSC Portugal, which measured 304.1 meters in length and held a capacity of 6,000 Teus.
Sudi Mwasinango, the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) cargo operations general manager, emphasized the vessel’s pivotal role in easing port congestion and reducing freight charges for traders.
Modern cranes at the berths facilitate efficient loading, ensuring the ship’s turnaround time is shortened to two days, thereby mitigating storage costs incurred by traders at the port.
Equipped with 16 ship-to-shore (STS) gantries, 25 reach stackers, 27 empty container handlers, 58 rubber-tyred gantries, and 8 rail-mounted gantries, the Port of Mombasa boasts an impressive array of equipment for vessel operations.
Furthermore, the port’s expansion efforts, highlighted by the completion of Berth 22 last year, have further enhanced its capabilities. Berth 22 now hosts three STSs, reinforcing the port’s commitment to efficient and effective cargo handling services.
