Kenya's Lamu Port receives 366-metre MV Hamouna, with about 5,200 TEU to unload; Mudavadi meets APM Terminals executive

The 366-metre container ship MV Hamouna called at Lamu Port on Saturday 3 October with about 14,500 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) on board, about 5,200 of which were set to be discharged at Lamu, KBC and Capital FM reported on 4 October.

"This is the first vessel to discharge over 5,000 TEUs at once," Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) Managing Director Capt. William Ruto said, as quoted by KBC and Capital FM. "Even our Mombasa Port has not surpassed this figure, making Lamu Port the next frontier in the maritime industry."

The containers left at Lamu are to be moved on by smaller feeder vessels to other destinations, according to KBC and Capital FM. Both reported that the ship travelled about 14 nautical miles through the Eastern Channel before berthing and that Lamu's berths are about 17.5 metres deep.

At the maiden-call ceremony, Capt. Ruto presented a certificate of first call and a plaque to the ship's master, Capt. Mir Firoozi, KBC reported.

KBC said the MV Baltimore Express, a 369-metre Hapag-Lloyd ship, called at Lamu earlier in 2026, and that the 335-metre MV Nagoya Express called in August 2025. KBC reported that Capt. Ruto said the groundbreaking of the Dangote East Africa Refinery would add to maritime and logistics opportunities. Lamu lies on the LAPSSET Corridor.

Separately, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi met Igor Van Den Essen, President for Africa and Europe at APM Terminals (Maersk), Capital FM reported on 4 October.

"In discussions with Mr. Igor Van Den Essen, President for Africa and Europe at APM Terminals (Maersk), I explored how we can deepen our partnership in maritime infrastructure, logistics and digital trade," Mudavadi said, as quoted by Capital FM.

Mudavadi said he encouraged Maersk to take up the opportunities from the groundbreaking of the Dangote East Africa Oil Refinery in Lamu, which he called "a major catalyst for accelerating the LAPSSET Corridor". He said Kenya is pursuing partnerships that can bring capital, technology, innovation and expertise while creating jobs, Capital FM reported.