-KPA MD Captain Ruto say the three cutting-edge cranes is set to revolutionize the port’s operations and position it as a global maritime hub;
-MAARUFU MOHAMED-GOLFNEWSLINKS;
Two out of the three state-of-the-art Post-Panamax Ship-to-Shore (STS) gantry cranes that were delivered at the Port of Lamu have been safely been offloaded from the vessel MV Zhen Hua 24 over the week in Lamu County.
Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) Managing Director Captain William Ruto has announced that the remaining STS Crane will be discharged by Monday, 15th, April, 2024 morning.
Speaking to the media at the Port of Lamu, the Managing Director stated that the arrival of the three cutting-edge cranes is set to revolutionize the port’s operations and position it as a global maritime hub.
“These cranes stand out due to their advanced technology and capabilities. With a reach of 24 containers across and the capacity to handle modern vessels of over 18,000 TEUs, they are well-equipped to compete with the top ports worldwide and attract Super Post-Panamax vessels,” he said.
He added that these cranes have been specifically designed to tackle the unique challenges posed by Lamu’s windy conditions, with twin-box booms ensuring stability and operational reliability.
“With the addition of this equipment, the Port of Lamu is on track to become a key driver of economic growth and regional integration. Furthermore, there was a notable increase in container traffic, with 1,779 TEUs recorded in 2023 compared to 382 TEUs in 2022, representing a rise of 1,397 TEUs,”said the Managing Director.
“Furthermore, there was a notable increase in container traffic, with 1,779 TEUs recorded in 2023 compared to 382 TEUs in 2022, representing a rise of 1,397 TEUs,” the Managing Director added.
The cranes have a span of 30.5 meter, a lifting height of 60 meters and an outreach of 62 meters with a back reach of 16 meters.
The Sh310 billion Lamu Port kicked off its operations on May 20, 2021 with the first berth after being commissioned by former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The Port is the second commercial port in Kenya and is expected to transform the shipping and maritime industry in Africa after experiencing a significant growth, with cargo increasing from 6,539 metric tons in 2022 to 37,576 metric tons in 2023, marking a growth of 31,037 metric tons.
The port of Lamu is planned to have a total of 23 modern berths with a quay length of 400 meters each and a depth of minus 17.5 meters capable of accommodating Panamax and new Panamax vessels, with a capacity of over 10,000 TEUs.
Phase one of the project comprises three berths, while Phase two will have 16 berths featuring three bulk, three containers, six general cargo and one liquid bulk, one coal, one LNG and one product oil.
The final phase of the port will see the construction of four berths comprising one container and three general cargo berths.
Since it started operations in May 2021, the port has recorded handling of 59 vessels.
The port which is a critical pillar of the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) corridor project and is expected to connect Kenya to South Sudan and Ethiopia is also expected to link northern Kenya to the Middle Belt of Africa.
The Lapsset corridor programme encompasses a vast network of infrastructure projects, including highways, railways and international airports.
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