LAUNCH: Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) has started moving heavy equipment from the Port of Mombasa to Lamu Port as it prepares to open the new facility on June 15.

Leading marine and specialised contractor, Comarco won the contract to move the equipment in two shipments from Mombasa to Lamu.

Comarco and Port of Mombasa engineers started loading the equipment with the first ship set to arrive in Lamu today.

On the first shipment, they will be moving four terminal tractors, eight skeletal trailers, two forklifts, two low-bed trailers, four lateral mark buoys and assorted lifting equipment. 

Starting May 5, KPA will start transporting equipment that requires stability.

They will also be loading two rubber-gantry cranes, one Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) scanner, two mobile cranes and other equipment needed for operation of the facility.

Ernest Mbalanya. KPA official who supervised the work, said they executed the loading of equipment with precision to avoid damage and took consideration of adverse sea weather before sailing off.

Transporting the gears

He said they have drawn a detailed plan to ensure a safe voyage for both cargo and crew who will be transporting the gears.

“This forms the initial phase of transporting equipment that is critical in cargo handling to the new Lamu Port.

We shall be carrying out a second shipment that will involve the bigger cranes that are used in loading and offloading from ships on May 5,” he said.

So far, the first three berths have built at the Lamu Port at a cost of more than Sh40 billion. Each berth measures 400 metres and can accommodate the longest ship in the world.