The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) has acquired a new KSh1.1 billion tugboat, seeking to boost efficiency and bulk handling activities at the second container terminal. This makes Kenya the second African country after South Africa to own salvage boats
The multipurpose tugboat boat will provide rescue services, marine salvage, fire suppression at sea and control maritime pollution. Additionally, it will have the capability to execute tug services within and outside the harbor. The tugboat is the first of its kind in East and Central Africa and will be instrumental in undertaking marine operations including berthing and un-berthing of ships.
Acquisition of this tugboat now guarantees two to three simultaneous vessel movement at any given time. This translates to optimal availability of 4 at all times as compared to current situation of 3 whenever one tug is out of service due to planned maintenance or breakdown.
In addition to the tugboat, the Authority has also acquired three ship-to-shore gantry cranes from Japan at $28.9 million. KPA general manager operation and harbour, Sudi Mwasingo said the cranes will assist the port in terms of efficiency, increased berth throughput, faster ship turnaround and reduced waiting time.
The crane has a capacity of moving to and fro the ship containers 40 moves per hour with a hoisting speed of the load a maximum of 80 metres per minute traveling along the rails above 45 metres per minute. It’s modern equipment. This will improve the productivity of the port and deal with congestion issues.
Acting General Manager KPA Engineering Services, Javan Wanga
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