Kenya Ports Authority has posted a nine per cent year-on-year increase in cargo to 5.56 million tonnes in the first quarter,according to Shipping Gazette.
Port managing director Gichiri Ndua estimate that volume has risen in the second quarter as the authority expects increases container traffic to 1.6 million TEU, from the current 900,000 TEU in the next five years.
Average dwell time has also reduced from 5.8 days in 2013 to 3.8 days this year. "This is a significant improvement of two days," said Mr Ndua.
Average turnaround time per ship has also reduced to 3.2 days against 3.3 days in last year's first four months and vessels carrying motor vehicles have maintained the lowest average port time of one day since last year, according to the authority and cited by the star of Mombasa.
Mr Ndua attributed the growth to the expansion programmes which include dredging of the Kilindini channel and construction of berth 19 which was commissioned in August last year.
The move saw the first widest ever container vessel- Maersk Cairo, with a capacity of 4,350 TEU dock at the port in February.
"I am glad to report that the ongoing port capacity expansion programme is firmly on track with a number of initiatives in the pipeline which will be used to enhance operations," said Mr Ndua.
Cargo handled at the port is expected to reach 28.5 million tonnes annually from the current 22 million with an annual growth rate of 7.5 per cent.
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