InterAsia Lines, a Taiwan-based shipping line, has launched a new weekly service at the Port of Mombasa, enhancing maritime connectivity between India and East Africa. The service, operated in partnership with Hyundai Merchant Marine, Pacific International Lines, and COSCO Shipping Corporation Limited, will have a vessel capacity of 2,000 to 2,500 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units. This development was announced during a courtesy call on Kenya Ports Authority chief executive officer Captain William Ruto by Eric Chen, InterAsia Lines' East Africa and Mozambique representative.
The new service is a response to the growing demand for shipping between Asia and East Africa, driven by increased trade volumes along the Asia-Africa route. Chen commended the ongoing infrastructure development and modernization projects at the Ports of Mombasa and Lamu, which have attracted more shipping lines to the region. The Port of Mombasa, a key maritime gateway, handled 2.1 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units and achieved a record cargo throughput of 45.45 million metric tonnes last year.
The Port of Mombasa's growth is significant, with a 10.9 percent increase in cargo throughput from 40.99 million metric tonnes in the previous year. The meeting between Chen and Captain Ruto also reviewed progress in implementing the Advanced Cargo Declaration system, designed to facilitate pre-arrival cargo processing. This system enables the submission and verification of cargo documentation before goods are loaded at the port of export.
The Port of Lamu has also shown remarkable growth, handling 799,161 metric tonnes of cargo last year and 1,002,282 metric tonnes this year. In contrast, the port handled only 34,761 metric tonnes in its first year of operation and saw a significant drop to 6,539 metric tonnes in 2022. However, the port's cargo handling has been increasing, with 37,576 metric tonnes in 2023 and 74,380 metric tonnes in 2024.
The new weekly service by InterAsia Lines is expected to commence in mid-October and will strengthen the maritime connectivity between India and East Africa. The service will operate with a weekly vessel, providing a consistent and reliable shipping option for traders. This development is a significant boost to the region's trade and economic growth.
The Kenya Ports Authority has been working to improve the efficiency and capacity of its ports, including the implementation of the Advanced Cargo Declaration system. The system aims to reduce clearance times and increase the speed of cargo processing. The authority has also been investing in infrastructure development and modernization projects to enhance the ports' capacity and efficiency.
The growth of the Port of Mombasa and Lamu is a positive indicator of the region's economic growth and increased trade activity. The ports' strategic location and improved infrastructure make them attractive to shipping lines and traders. The new weekly service by InterAsia Lines is a testament to the region's growing importance as a trade hub.
Key points
- InterAsia Lines launches weekly service at Port of Mombasa with a vessel capacity of 2,000 to 2,500 TEUs.
- The service aims to strengthen maritime connectivity between India and East Africa.
- The Port of Mombasa handled 2.1 million TEUs and achieved a record cargo throughput of 45.45 million metric tonnes last year.
