The Port of Lamu which began its operation in 2021, has been a busy space since the beginning of the year. For the past seven months, the facility has handled 13 vessels and this August is set to be the busiest month, with at least 10 vessels scheduled to dock in this Port. This is signaling growing interest in Kenya’s newest deep-water port.
Last week, Lamu welcomed MV Nagoya Express, the longest vessel ever to dock there. The 335-meter container vessel, operated by German shipping line Hapag-Lloyd, picked up 140 transshipped TEUs bound for New York.
The cargo had earlier been discharged by another Hapag-Lloyd vessel, MV Tolten. The arrival of MV Nagoya Express underscores Lamu’s design for ultra-large container vessels (ULCVs), according to the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) management.
The port’s deep-water berths and wide turning basin can accommodate ships longer than those that can be turned in Mombasa, where the limit is 323 meters.
“This arrival proves Lamu was not built as an afterthought. It was built with vessels like Nagoya Express in mind,” said Lamu Port General Manager Captain Abdulaziz Mzee.
On Tuesday, 12th August 2025, the port received MV Lobivia, operated by CMA CGM under its Asea Service while another CMA CGM vessel, Gulf Express, was expected to dock on Wednesday evening.
“CMA CGM has started continuous transshipment operations at the Port of Lamu. Today, MV Lobivia discharged 592 transshipment containers, most of them destined for Zanzibar. Other vessels will call here to collect cargo for other destinations,” said Captain Mzee.
Notable arrivals this month include Onego Buran and CMA CGM Saigon on Friday, Stephanie C on August 16, a return call from Lobivia on August 21.
MYNY vessel is expected on August 23, CMA CGM Kailas on August 24, and CMA CGM Tarragona on August 30.
“We are happy to announce that Lamu is now a busy port, and it’s going to be even busier. We have inquiries from vessels up to 340 meters long, meaning more ultra-large ships will soon call here,” Captain Mzee said, adding that they expect to handle over 23 vessels by the end of August.
Major shipping lines such as Maersk Shipping Line, One Line Shipping, and Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) are also showing interest in the Lamu port which is a good sign.
“Yesterday, we had Alpha Kirawira from Alpha Logistics calling here, carrying cargo as well,” he noted.
The port has a handling capacity of 1.2 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs).
So far, most of the Cargo received is transshipment bound for Zanzibar, Indian Ocean islands, Mozambique, and Madagascar.
“We have also had inquiries for bulk cargo, including construction materials for a US airbase in Lamu. They have consulted us on the logistics, so we are looking at diversifying cargo types beyond containers,” Captain Mzee revealed.
MV Lobivia’s pilot, Captain Victor Bushyn from Ukraine, praised the facility’s readiness.
“I am very happy with this port. It is well prepared, clean, spacious, and has good depths inside the harbour. I think you have a good future,” he said.
