The German shipowner Hapag-Lloyd plans to extend its services in East Africa by relying on the port of Mombasa. This project comes as the Kenya Port Authority continues several investments aimed at increasing the capacity and efficiency of the ports of Mombasa and Lamu.

Hapag-Lloyd announced its intention to expand its activities in East Africa after nearly nine years of presence at the port of Mombasa.

This perspective was raised during a meeting between the company's Managing Director for East Africa, Altamush Ahmed, and the Managing Director of the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), Captain William Ruto. Exchanges focused on strengthening cooperation and improving the performance of port operations.

This expansion is taking place in a context of modernization of Kenya's port infrastructure. In particular, KPA indicated that work on the 19B wharf at Mombasa harbour was approximately 40 per cent, while development of the first dock at Dongo Kundu continued.

The port authority is also modernizing its terminal management system and finalising the acquisition of new handling equipment for the ports of Mombasa and Lamu.

These investments aim to support the growth of maritime traffic in the region and to provide better operating conditions for shipping companies.

According to KPA, the increase in capacity, the modernization of equipment and the improvement of operating systems are expected to increase the fluidity of port operations.

This announcement comes a few weeks after the port of call of the MV Baltimore Express, a 369 metre ship operated by Hapag-Lloyd, at the port of Lamu.

Presented by KPA as the largest container carrier to have docked in a port in East and Central Africa, this port of call highlighted the capacity of the port of Lamu to accommodate very large vessels, while Kenya is seeking to consolidate its role as a regional maritime hub.