A Sh19 billion berth under construction at the Port of Mombasa is steadily taking shape as Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) moves to expand capacity at East Africa’s busiest maritime gateway amid growing cargo volumes.
The project, known as Berth 19B, is a major quay extension designed to strengthen the port's ability to handle larger vessels and accommodate increasing trade flows through the region.
According to KPA, the new berth will add 240 metres of quay length and feature a draft of 15 metres, enabling it to receive container ships of up to 45,000 deadweight tonnage.
The expanded facility is expected to address growing operational demands from larger vessels calling at Mombasa, which require deeper waters and longer berthing spaces for efficient loading and unloading operations.
Once completed, Berth 19B will provide an additional handling capacity of 300,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) annually, significantly boosting the port's throughput.
Port officials say the increased capacity will help ease congestion at existing berths, reduce vessel waiting times and facilitate faster evacuation of cargo from the port.
The project includes construction of a new quay wall, dredging works to deepen the channel, expansion of container yards and development of supporting infrastructure that will integrate with existing terminal operations.
KPA has described the investment as part of a broader strategy to expand port infrastructure ahead of projected demand and maintain the Port of Mombasa's competitiveness in the regional logistics sector.
The authority says the development will reinforce Mombasa's position as the preferred trade and logistics hub for Kenya and the wider East African region, while supporting economic growth driven by increased maritime trade.
The expansion comes at a time when cargo traffic through the port continues to rise, prompting the authority to invest in modern facilities capable of handling larger vessels and higher cargo volumes efficiently.
