President Uhuru Kenyatta will on Thursday preside over the operationalization of the first berth at the new Lamu Port.

MV CAP Carmel became the first commercial ship to dock at the new Lamu port ahead of the launch by President Uhuru.

Carmel was accorded all the trappings of a functional sea port.

By the time of going to press, another Maersk vessel – Mv Seago Bremerhavel, a cellular container stacking ship had just anchored at Lamu’s minus 17.5 metres deep waters.

Lamu port is expected to have 32 berths.

The first phase will have three berths – 1 container berth, 1 general berth and 1 bulk berth.

Phase two of new Lamu port will have 16 berths; three bulk, three container, six general cargo, one liquid bulk, one coal, one LNG and one product oil.

The port will offer an alternative gateway to access landlocked Ethiopia and South Sudan and supplement the congested Mombasa port.

The Ksh500 billion project is part of the larger Lapset project that includes an oil pipeline, roads, rail lines and airports that connect the nation to its northern neighbours.

Its launch on Thursday marks a significant step in Kenya’s ambition of becoming the main shipping hub on the East African’s coast.

Port of Lamu will also create employment opportunities to the local community, stimulate economic growth and development of Lamu and adjacent counties.

President Uhuru on Thursday first arrived at Minjila in Garsen, Tana River County, to inspect the 114km Garsen-Witu-Lamu road before heading to Lamu County.

The launched road will facilitate movement of cargo in and out of the new ksh310 billion deep sea port.