Mombasa Port Receives Largest Container Vessel

Port of Mombasa of Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) pilots has received Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) container vessel MSC Maxine  master one of largest container vessel to dock at the facility.

The port has registered a new performance record of 1450 moves within an eight-hour shift in the container operations, said a press release.

"The record was set by MSC Maxine in her maiden call at the Port of Mombasa on Wednesday beating the previous record of container carrier Livorno of 1265 moves registered late June this year," it said.

MSC Maxine, with a container capacity of 9,411 TEUs, the largest container carrier to dock at the Port, also recorded an average of 181 gross moves per hour to break Liberian registered Livorno's record of 140 gross moves per hour. (Gross moves per hour is a maritime productivity term that defines the total container movement on loading, offloading and repositioning divided by the number of hours for which the vessel is at berth).

The Panama flagged vessel has a length overall of 300 m, a breadth of 48m, height of 62 m and deadweight of 110629 tonnes and a gross tonnage of 94469.

This is the third container operations record set within this year. The new record is an improvement of 20 % from the prior record at the Mombasa Port set in June 2018.

Commenting on the latest record, Kenya Ports Authority Acting MD, Dr. Arch. Daniel Manduku attributed the improved performance to a well-coordinated operation and diligence from the workforce: "The record performance is demonstrable proof that with right equipment, appropriate planning and a motivated workforce the fluidity of cargo operations can continue achieving the requisite efficiencies that all Port stakeholders are seeking."