Kenya is expected to become an efficient regional and international shipping hub, thanks to the continued digitisation of the ports.

Principal Secretary of Shipping and Maritime, Nancy Karigithu said that Kenya has enhanced the digitisation of ports both along the Indian Ocean and Lake Victoria.

Karigithu noted that actions have been undertaken in terms of automating operations and deploying artificial intelligence which has reduced the time it takes to offload cargo from ships and clear it from the port.

“Technology has brought on board smart and mega-ships which call for the restructuring of existing ports infrastructure, digitalisation and integration of processes and procedures at system level with the emphasis on adopting artificial intelligence and increased automation,” said Karigithu.

The multi-billion shilling shipping industry, she said has been hit by a disruptive technology that is rapidly changing the way shipping and maritime trade is conducted.

She made the remarks during a recent stakeholders’ consultative forum at a Nairobi hotel attended by the shipping lines serving East and Southern Africa and organised by the Intergovernmental Standing Committee on Shipping.

Karigithu said Kenya operationalised the Single window system for the electronic exchange of documentation, clearances and approval for stakeholders.