Questions come up over Chinese language agency’s Sh50 Billion Lamu Port dredging as container ship runs aground
The MV Baltimore Categorical on the Port of Lamu. PHOTO/KPA.
By MARITIME CORRESPONDENT
Questions have arisen over the dredging of the Lamu Port channel after a ship ran aground earlier than it was lightened and subsequently managed to berth on Sunday.
The MV Baltimore Categorical, a colossal vessel measuring 369 metres in size total, arrived at Lamu Port from Oman’s Salalah Port. KPA’s Common Supervisor on the Port of Lamu, Capt. Abdulaziz Mzee, who can also be a ship captain, took cost of the vessel after it ran aground, guaranteeing some cargo was offloaded earlier than steering it safely into the port.
In response to a maritime official accustomed to the case, the ship known as on the Port of Lamu to dump what was described as suspicious cargo loaded at Oman’s Salalah Port when the incident occurred.
The vessel left the Port of Lamu at this time after surveyors contracted by its homeowners, the German transport line Hapag-Lloyd, accomplished an evaluation of the injury sustained in the course of the grounding.
Hapag-Lloyd is anticipated to file a compensation declare with the vessel’s insurers, a declare more likely to consequence within the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) paying billions of shillings in compensation.
Surveyors are eager to ascertain why the ship, which has a draught of 16.5 metres, ran aground regardless of the Port of Lamu reportedly having a depth of between 17.5 and 18.5 metres.
The MV Baltimore Categorical is claimed to be the third ship to run aground on the Port of Lamu since its opening to public use. This growth has raised questions as as to whether the corporate contracted to dredge the three operational berths met its contractual obligations.
INFOGRAPGIC/AFRICA ECO NEWS.
The contract for dredging the three berths at Lamu Port was awarded to China Communications Building Firm (CCCC) in August 2014 at a price of US$478.9 million (Sh49.7 billion).
This dredging contract was a part of the broader Sh2.5 trillion (US$5 billion) Lamu Port-Southern Sudan-Ethiopia Transport Hall (LAPSSET) undertaking, which launched in 2012 throughout former President Mwai Kibaki’s administration.
The Lamu Port undertaking was designed to incorporate 32 deep-sea berths at an estimated price of US$5 billion. The short-term plan, overlaying the primary three berths presently in operation, was estimated at US$689 million.
This price accounted for dredging and reclamation, development of berths and yards, revetment, causeways and roads, buildings and utilities, in addition to the procurement of apparatus and tug boats.
It stays unclear why KPA issued a press release claiming that the MV Baltimore Categorical berthed with out incident, opposite to studies from port officers, transport operators, and different maritime authorities.
“In a historic feat, the Port of Lamu on Sunday night welcomed the most important vessel ever to dock at any port in East and Central Africa. The MV Baltimore Categorical, a colossal vessel measuring 369 metres in size total, arrived from Oman’s Salalah Port,” KPA stated in a press release.
The assertion added that the vessel, operated by German transport line Hapag-Lloyd, dealt with the repositioning of harmful cargo in compliance with Worldwide Maritime Group (IMO) laws throughout its keep on the port.
The decision by MV Baltimore Categorical adopted an earlier document set by a sister vessel, the MV Nagoya Categorical, a 335-metre container ship, which docked on the Port of Lamu in August 2025. Capt. Mzee, welcomed the ship, highlighting Lamu’s confirmed potential to deal with ultra-large vessels.
“This name lifts Lamu’s profile on the worldwide maritime map and compares to a number of the world’s most developed ports, together with Singapore, Rotterdam, and Hamburg,” stated the GM.
The Captain of MV Baltimore Categorical with KPA’s Common Supervisor on the Port of Lamu, Capt. Abdulaziz Mzee. PHOTO/KPA.
The KPA assertion added: “What units the Port of Lamu other than different regional ports is its naturally deep harbour of 17.5 metres. This depth permits Panamax and post-Panamax ships to sail into the channel with minimal or no dredging. Many different African ports require fixed dredging to deepen the seabed sufficient to accommodate mega ships and stay aggressive.”
KPA additional asserted: “This pure benefit allows Lamu to rival the world’s most fashionable ports, positioning it not solely as a transshipment gateway but additionally as a strategic hub able to dealing with very excessive cargo volumes.”
Lamu has dealt with over 120 vessels because the begin of the yr, with extra anticipated within the coming weeks. To help this progress, KPA is investing in fashionable tools, with new cranes, terminal tractors, and different cargo-handling equipment anticipated to reach all year long.
Security in harbours stays a vital side of maritime operations, as these areas typically expertise dense site visitors, together with business vessels, fishing boats, and leisure craft. Correctly dredged channels are important to sustaining secure navigation.
Ships that run aground could undergo hull injury, flooding, or lack of cargo, whereas additionally obstructing different vessels and delaying port operations.
Environmental dangers are additionally elevated, as groundings can lead to oil spills or the disruption of delicate marine habitats. Common hydrographic surveys, correct charts, and scheduled dredging are important to mitigating these hazards.
The Worldwide Maritime Group (IMO) emphasises the significance of port security and offers pointers to cut back the dangers related to groundings and different navigational incidents.
Whereas the IMO doesn’t prescribe a common compensation scheme, it recognises that ships broken because of insufficient port upkeep or poor navigational aids could also be entitled to hunt redress beneath worldwide regulation or native port laws.
Many ports worldwide implement statutory legal responsibility guidelines or insurance coverage mechanisms to make sure that vessel homeowners can get better losses the place negligence, comparable to inadequate dredging, contributed to an incident.
Such measures incentivise ports to take care of secure navigation channels and cling to worldwide security requirements, reinforcing each operational reliability and environmental safety.
