Lamu Port receives 43 vessels in three months

Pure car carrier, the MV Grande Auckland under the Grimaldi shipping line, when it docked for the first time at the Lamu port on Tuesday /CHARLES MGHENYI

The Port of Lamu has continued to record steady growth in vessel traffic, with 43 cargo vessels docking at the facility since January, the Kenya Ports Authority management has said.

The arrivals that include container carriers, cargo and fishing vessels have docked at the Port of Lamu in the past three months.

The latest arrival is the Pure Car Carrier (PCC) MV Grande Auckland, which made its maiden call at the port on Tuesday.

The European-origin vessel, which has a capacity of 9,000 motor vehicles, arrived carrying 1,200 brand new vehicles manufactured in Europe over the last two years.

Some 469 vehicles began rolling off the vessel mid-morning Tuesday at the Lamu port facility in Kililana, Lamu West.

The vehicles were originally destined for the Middle East and had initially been scheduled for discharge at the Port of Jebel Ali, the largest and busiest port in the Arabian Gulf.

However, due to the ongoing US-Israel war against Iran, the vessel was redirected to Lamu, where part of the cargo was discharged.

The remaining vehicles will continue their journey to Mumbai, India, where the vessel is expected to proceed after departing Lamu.

The vessel was received by Port of Lamu general manager Captain Abdulaziz Mzee, who presented a certificate of first call to the vessel’s master, Captain Uros Golsuf, marking the ship’s maiden visit to the port.

He said the increasing vessel calls demonstrate growing confidence by international shipping lines in the port’s operational efficiency and strategic position along the Indian Ocean trade routes.

“Today we are happy to receive the first ever motor vehicle carrier vessel MV Grande Auckland here at Lamu Port. It is a good milestone for us. The vehicle cargo discharged here was destined for the Middle East,” Mzee said.

He called on more shipping lines and logistics stakeholders to consider using the Port of Lamu for Roll-On-Roll-Off (RoRo) operations and transhipment cargo.

Mzee said since the commissioning and operationalisation of the Port of Lamu on May 20, 2021, the facility has handled 143 vessels, a development he said reflects the port’s gradual growth as a regional maritime hub.

He commended Nisomar Shipping Agency Limited, the chartering agent for the vessel, for selecting the Port of Lamu as the safest and most economical transhipment port in the Indian Ocean for Middle East-bound cargo.

Mzee said the decision to call at Lamu while on the voyage from Europe to Mumbai is a clear demonstration of confidence in the port’s efficiency, security and cargo handling capabilities.

Nisomar Shipping Agency chartering and business development manager for Africa, Munir Minas, who is also the link to the Grimaldi Shipping Line, said the Port of Lamu has demonstrated operational excellence since it was opened five years ago.

He said when evaluating possible ports of call, Lamu emerged as the most suitable option due to its high security standards, efficient cargo handling and proximity to Middle Eastern markets.

“The decision was made very easily with Lamu Port topping the charts compared to other ports in the region, especially in terms of efficiency of cargo handling and economic savings,” Minas said.

He said the shorter distance between Lamu and the Middle East, compared to other alternative ports such as Madagascar, also played a key role in selecting the Kenyan port.

Minas revealed that the 469 vehicles discharged at Lamu will remain at the port for about one to two months as shipping companies continue to monitor the situation in the Persian Gulf.

“Once calmness is restored, we will nominate another carrier, which will come and load the units and hopefully deliver them to their owners in the Middle East,” he said.

The arrival of MV Grande Auckland marks the first time a Roll-On/Roll-Off motor vehicle carrier has docked at the Port of Lamu, further highlighting the port’s growing capability to handle diverse cargo types.

The facility has continued to attract larger and specialised vessels in recent years.

In May 2024, the Port of Lamu received its first bulk carrier vessel, MV Abbay II, which delivered a consignment of fertiliser destined for the Ethiopian transit market.

Later, in August 2025, the port hosted MV Nagoya Express, a 335-metre container vessel operated by German shipping line Hapag-Lloyd, making it the longest vessel ever to dock at an East African port.

The vessel picked up 140 transshipped TEUs bound for New York, cargo that had earlier been discharged at Lamu by MV Tolten, also operated by Hapag-Lloyd.

According to the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), the arrival of ultra-large vessels such as MV Nagoya Express demonstrates that Lamu’s deep-water berths and wide turning basin are capable of accommodating vessels that cannot be handled at the Port of Mombasa, where turning space is limited.

KPA officials say such developments continue to reinforce Lamu Port’s position as an emerging regional logistics and maritime trade hub, supported by ongoing investments in modern equipment and infrastructure.