NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul 19-The French Owned MV Spirit of Dubai is now the second vessel to dock at the Lamu Port with transshipment cargo to Jeddah.
The first vessel, MV Amu 1 docked at the port last week Thursday with agricultural products from Zanzibar.
Lamu Port General Manager Abdullahi Samatar says the upcoming transshipments and any further adjustments will be pegged on the outcome and the success of the business at the port today.
“This is the first business that we are currently handling then we shall later evaluate how the process has been which we can then see how to attract more shipping lines,” said Samatar.
The Spirit of Dubai is in Lamu to pick the cargo destined Port of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, with 62 containers.
The port, which was commissioned by President Uhuru Kenyatta in May is mainly targeting transshipment cargo to countries along the Indian Ocean Islands such as Seychelles and Comoros.
Samatar added that the government is also in talks with Ethiopia in order to pull more businesses to the port.
“We are currently in talks with one of our neighboring countries Ethiopia so that they can start using the port which is a boost to business to both countries,” he added.
The port is considered as on one of the largest port in Sub Sahara Africa, is considered ideal for handling ships which cannot dock at the port of Mombasa whose depth is 15 metres.
The port is a key part of the wider Lamu Port South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport Corridor, which is being implemented at a total cost of Sh2.5 trillion.