History as first ever LNG-powered vessel calls on Mombasa Port

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The Kenya Ports Authority on Friday evening made yet another milestone after receiving the first ever Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)-powered vessel in any East African port.

The MV Hoegh Australis, carrying some 822 vehicles meant for both the Kenyan and the transit market of Uganda, South Sudan and Tanzania, sailed its way into the port at around 5.30pm, making history in the process.

LNG-powered vessels use liquefied natural gas as fuel, significantly cutting on sulphur, nitrogen oxides, and particulate emissions that emit carbon.

LNG-powered vessels meet environmental rules of clean gas.

The MV Hoegh Australis is a 200-metre vessel which boasts of a capacity of 9,304 vehicles, and has 16 decks.

“This is the largest to ever call on our port. Most importantly, this eco-friendly ship boasts of cutting-edge technology where it uses LNG fuel, very clean energy option.

“This sits very well with the Green Port policy of KPA, which is aligned to Kenya’s national clean energy objectives,” KPA acting harbour master Captain Suleiman Bakari, who navigated the vessel into the port, said.

He noted that the trust that Hoegh Autoliners, which owns the vessel, has shown in the capacity of KPA to handle such a big vessel safely, speaks to the confidence that the shipping world has in KPA.

“We do not take this for granted. We reaffirm our commitment to Hoegh Autoliners and other stakeholders in the shipping world and the entire shipping logistics chain of our commitment to serve their interests to their satisfaction,” Captain Bakari, the chief pilot who was representing KPA managing director Captain William Ruto, said.

LNG-powered vessels are on the rise in the world, with now over 1,000 of them across the seas as at late 2024.

“Kenya takes clean energy very seriously. The KPA and the Mombasa port is well aligned to serving these vessels. They should feel welcomed,” Captain Bakari said.

Socopao Kenya Limited regional shipping manager Satish Nair, who is the vessel’s agent, said this is the first time Hoegh Autoliners has deployed an LNG-powered vessel to the Mombasa port.

“It is an important milestone for East African region because such kind of a vessel has never been to the East African ports,” Nair said.

He said with the kind of technology that KPA has deployed at the Mombasa port, it marries well with the technology that the MV Hoegh Australis has on board.

“Green energy is very important and we need to embrace it,” he said.

He said shipping companies and agents are trying as much as possible to reduce carbon emission into the environment and such efforts must be applauded.

“This is one of our aims, to ensure that our shipping lines are completely green in the end,” Nair said.

MV Hoegh Australis master-in-command Captain Edgar Paul Buhia said although it is not his first time in Mombasa, this is his first time commanding an LNG-powered vessel, and into Mombasa.

He lauded the Mombasa port’s performance and the safety with which the MV Hoegh Australis was handled into the port.

According to Socopao agency manager John Situbi, the vessel was expected to leave the Mombasa port Saturday morning for the next stop in Dar es Salaam and then South Africa.

“The vessel sailed from Singapore 11 days ago. She is laden with 822 cargo to be landed in Mombasa. It is a mixed cargo for both the local market Kenya and transit markets of Uganda, Tanzania and South Sudan,” Situbi said.