Lamu Port has made history by becoming the first port in East and Central Africa to host the largest vessel ever to dock in the region.

The milestone announced on Monday, May 11, 2026, was marked by the arrival of the 369-meter MV Baltimore Express, a mega container ship operated by Germany’s Hapag-Lloyd, which arrived on Sunday evening from Salalah Port in Oman.

“In a historic feat, the Port of Lamu on Sunday evening welcomed the largest vessel ever to dock at any Port in East and Central Africa,” the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) wrote on X.

To fully grasp how enormous the ship is, it stretches nearly the length of three standard football pitches, with 69 meters to spare. Most regional ports would struggle to receive a vessel of that size without serious preparation.

To accommodate this enormous ship, KPA states that Lamu Port was prepared for the historic moment, as the port’s 400-meter-long quays per berth provided just enough room to bring the massive ship in without a hitch, enabling it to dock smoothly without incident.

Additionally, the port sits in a naturally deep harbour with a depth of 17.5 meters, allowing even the largest ships in the world to sail straight in with little to no seabed clearance, something most African ports simply cannot offer.

While in Lamu, the vessel conducted restowing operations for dangerous cargo, carefully rearranging hazardous materials on board in strict adherence to the regulations established by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), the global body responsible for maritime safety standards.

The KPA General Manager for the Port of Lamu, Captain Abdulaziz Mzee, received the vessel and described the successful call as a strong indication of the port’s capability to handle some of the world’s most complex and demanding maritime traffic.

“This call lifts Lamu’s profile on the global maritime map, and compares to some of the world’s most developed ports like Singapore, Rotterdam and Hamburg,” Captain Mzee said.

This record is not an isolated incident, as per KPA. In August 2025, a sister vessel, the MV Nagoya Express, a 335-meter container ship, set the previous record at Lamu.

Across Africa, many competing ports incur significant costs on dredging in order to maintain sufficient depth for large vessels to dock and operate efficiently.

In Kenya, the rival Mombasa Port, currently undergoing expansion and modernisation under the France–Kenya multibillion-shilling partnership, poses a strong competitor to Lamu Port and is expected to intensify competition in the region.

Despite this, Lamu Port continues to leverage its natural deep-water advantage, having already handled more than 120 vessels since the beginning of 2026, with additional arrivals anticipated in the near future.

KPA is also strengthening its capacity through the acquisition of new cranes, terminal tractors, and other modern equipment expected later this year, steps aimed at further enhancing the port’s competitiveness and long-term performance.