The Kenya Ports Authority corporate affairs department said in a press statement that the recent expansion trend is gradually being embraced at the port as proven by the successful handling of some large carriers recently.
Benard Osero, the KPA corporate affairs manager , said the Mediterranean Shipping Company has replaced some of its smaller container vessels with two Panama vessels namely MSC Roberta and MSC Jade. “ The two have a length overall of 244m and 241m respectively, each with more than 3300 TEUs capacity and a draft of 12.9m. Local maritime experts have exuded confidence that the trend will lead to reduction of freight costs in the region, ” he said.
Osero also said other notable large carriers that have since called the port following the dredging include the Roll-on-Roll-off vessel Jolly Diamante the largest of her kind. “ She has a length overall of 239m and dead weight capacity of 46,635tons. Owned and operated by Ignazio Messina of Italy, the vessel operates a direct service between Europe and East Africa. She was built in 2011 ,” he said.
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Dredging Today Staff, May 18, 2012; Image: marinekenya