Mombasa — The completed phase two of the Second Container Terminal at the Port of Mombasa with an additional annual capacity of 450,000 TEUs has officially been handed over to Kenya Ports Authority.
Speaking on Tuesday during the project handover ceremony, KPA acting Managing Director Amb. John Mwangemi said the project comprises the construction of the 300 m long berth number 22 and other administrative facilities and has a total of 2.1 million TEUs annual capacity.
He commended the Japanese contractor, Toyo Construction Company, for completing on schedule the second phase of the Second Container Terminal which commenced in September 2018.
"The contract for the construction of this terminal includes delivery of Cargo Handling equipment namely four Ship to Shore Gantry (SSG) and 12 Rubber Tyred Gantry (RTG) cranes.
Of this equipment, one SSG and 12 RTGs were delivered and commissioned in Phase 1 of the project and are currently in use while three STSs were delivered in January this year and are currently being commissioned," the MD added.
KPA's General Manager Infrastructure Development Eng. Abdullahi Samatar said with the completion of the project, KPA had achieved its target of expanding capacity ahead of demand. He said the construction of the new facility was undertaken within 44 months.
Toyo Construction Company Project Manager, Mr. Haruo Yoshida expressed delight for successfully and safely delivering the complex infrastructure project on schedule.
"Some notable challenges encountered included the stakeholder environmental concerns and the outbreak of the novel COVID-19 pandemic, both of which threatened either prolonged suspension of the project or even potential termination of the contract," he added.
The Project Manager said it was through joint resilience and collaboration by the parties as well as the professional intervention and direction by the engineer and the consultant that they were able to overcome all the hurdles.
He said even at the time of the COVID-19 lockdown, some site activities continued courtesy of the selfless guidance and supervision by their expatriate personnel and deployment of specialized heavy plant and equipment for the works which ensured the realization of Japanese technology transfer to "exceedingly diligent local personnel."
"Indeed, I am personally proud and overjoyed as the Project Manager, to have delivered this Phase two project without any fatal accident or serious health and safety incident, not to mention the remarkable improvement in the workmanship and quality of the completed works as compared to phase one of the project," Yoshida added.
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He thanked KPA management for the opportunity to execute the project saying his company was willing and ready for future such development projects with a promise to deliver beyond expectations for the benefit of Kenyans.
"As Toyo, we strongly believe that the completion of Berth No. 22 is a major step towards the realization of the economic growth of Kenya, not only by presenting economic opportunities to the surrounding communities but also by putting Mombasa Port and City on the map as a regional gateway to the larger East African Corporation as well as an international trade hub and destination."
And speaking on behalf of Japan Port Consultants (JPC) and BAC Engineering, Takeshi Miyagawa, said the completion of the project marks another milestone for Kenya's maritime sector, signaling a continuation in the development of Kenya's ports and their capacity to facilitate the region's international trade as a gateway.
The project is part of the Mombasa Port Development Program (MPDP) which was started in early 2000s as one of the country's Vision 2030 flagship projects. The first phase of the three-phased project which was completed in 2016 and commissioned for operations in September 2016, increased the port's annual capacity by 550,000 TEUs
