Lamu:The Port of Lamu reached a significant milestone with the arrival of MV Hamouna, a 366-metre container vessel, highlighting the port’s capability as a deep-water facility and its expanding role as a key player in the LAPSSET Corridor’s transshipment and regional trade.
According to Kenya News Agency, the vessel brought with it approximately 14,500 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), with about 5,200 scheduled for discharge at Lamu. These containers will be transshipped to various destinations using smaller feeder vessels. MV Hamouna successfully navigated 14 nautical miles through the Eastern Channel before safely docking at the port.
Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) Managing Director Capt. William Ruto emphasized the significance of the event, noting that it underscores Lamu’s growing status as a strategic maritime hub. He remarked that this is the first time a vessel has discharged over 5,000 TEUs at once at the port, surpassing even the Mombasa Port and positioning Lamu as a new frontier in the maritime industry.
Capt. Ruto also mentioned that the recent groundbreaking of the Dangote East Africa Refinery is expected to enhance port operations further and create more opportunities for maritime and logistics services in the area. The port’s ability to accommodate some of the world’s largest vessels is supported by its deep-water harbour and modern berthing infrastructure, with berths having a depth of about 17.5 metres.
Earlier this year, the port also welcomed the MV Baltimore Express, a 369-metre vessel from Hapag-Lloyd, and in August 2025, the 335-metre MV Nagoya Express set a vessel-size record at the port. As part of maritime tradition, Capt. Ruto presented a certificate of first call and a plaque to Capt. Mir Firoozi, the master of MV Hamouna, during the maiden-call ceremony.
