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A Dutch company has won the tender to dredge the Mombasa port channel, which maritime experts say will boost the port’s strategic position as a regional trans-shipment hub.
A Dutch company has won the tender to dredge the Mombasa port channel, which maritime experts say will boost the port’s strategic position as a regional trans-shipment hub.

The company, Van Oord Dredging and Marine Contractors, emerged the best in the evaluations, beating three other firms who submitted bids in April this year.

The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) postponed the dredging (deepen, or widen a waterway, especially one intended for shipping) last year until the planned construction of a second container terminal commenced.

The construction of the second container terminal and dredging of the channel, should begin simultaneously because the material that will be scooped from the sea will be used to reclaim part of the land for the second terminal.

“We are in the process of preparing the contract documents to be signed soon so that the dredging can start by next month or in latest in January next year,” KPA Procurement Manager Mr Yobesh Oyaro said.

“Since it is now over 14 days since the tender was awarded, we do not anticipate any hurdles and the dredging will go on as planned,” Oyaro said.

Terminal constraints

The Mombasa port has lost the trans-shipment business at the Dar-es-Salaam port in the last two years due to the container terminal constraints.

The shipping lines calling at Dar-es-Salaam port have sought alternative ports due to long vessel delays, the port operations manager Eng Joseph Atonga told the Saturday Nation in an interview.

“Mombasa is the most ideal alternative. We can only tap into this business once we construct the second container terminal and dredge the channel,” Mr Atonga said.

An expanded channel will enable the port to accommodate larger vessels that shipping lines prefer. The Mombasa Port channel has a limited water depth and port capacity.

Maritime experts emphasise the need to fast track the dredging of the port and construction of the second terminal to tap trans-shipment business already under threat from other regional ports.

Once the a large capacity is created, the port will target trans-shipment business from Seychelles, Mauritius, Tanga, Zanzibar and Maputo.