A new crane being off-loaded from a ship at Mombasa port. PHOTO/KPA
BY KURIAN MUSA
newsdesk@reporter.co.ke
Kenya Ports Authority’s (KPA) has enhanced cargo handling capacity and efficiency at Mombasa port after acquiring two ultra-modern diesel electric cranes.
Two additional cranes and six Eco Hoppers will be procured by December 2017 as part of cargo handling equiopment modernization programme at the Mombasa port.
Unlike the Mobile Harbor Cranes currently used at the port which handle one vessel at a time, the new cranes will handle two vessels simultaneously.
The Eco Hoppers have been designed to suit the characteristics and flow properties of virtually any bulk material, from coal to clinker, sulphur to iron ore.
The new cranes will provide dust and spillage-free unloading through a dust control system that minimizes escape of dust during discharge and reduces running expenses on average by 30 percent. The Eco Hoppers will complement the mobile harbour cranes for dry bulk cargo handling.
The ongoing changes are part of the Mombasa port improvement programme providing more resilient infrastructure facilities with an aim of reducing carbon emissions and helping the port, its users and other stakeholders adapt to the effects of climate change.
The cranes will enable the port to handle two vessels at a time instead of the present one which in turn will reduce ship waiting times and significantly greenhouse gas emissions from their diesel powered engines.

A new crane arriving at Mombasa port. PHOTO/KPA
The cranes funded by Trade Mark East Africa (TMEA) through the UK government’s International Climate Fund (ICF) facility were procured at a total cost of Kshs 868.27 million (USD 8.7 million).
These cranes are aimed at mitigating the negative effects on the environment. They are a first of their kind to be deployed in East and Southern Africa.
KPA General Managers Eng. Joseph Atonga (Engineering Services), Mr. Sudi Mwasinago (Operations) and TMEA Kenya Country Director Mr. Ahmed Farah witnessed the offloading of the equipment at the Port of Mombasa’s Berth No. 10.
The Government of Kenya has made it a priority to continually invest in infrastructural development of the Port of Mombasa and made progress in the modernisation of the Port.
Some of the key projects include the construction of the phase 1 of the Second Container Terminal which increased the port’s annual capacity by 550,000 TEUs, the construction of Berth No. 19, and the dredging of the entrance channel which has enabled the Port to handle larger vessels.
TMEA has been working closely with KPA to implement short-term and high impact projects including the improvement of Gate 18/20 which enhanced Port access as well as the upgrading of Yard 5 which increased capacity at the Port.
KPA through support from TMEA has developed a green port policy which seeks to position the Port of Mombasa as a leading world port providing sound stewardship and management of the environment affected by port operations.
The strategy highlights the need to place people first, while addressing the negative impacts occasioned by port operations as well placing a premium on technology-rich and sustainable port operations.