This archive report was first published on 13 June 2020.
On June 12, 2020, the Port of Mombasa witnessed a remarkable performance by a new caller at the second container terminal, Mv. Cosco Yinkou.
According to reports, the vessel docked at berth No. 21 and completed discharge and loading operations in the afternoon, marking a record-breaking performance.
George Ominde, the KPA Crane operator, played a crucial role in this achievement, recording 362 moves per crane shift, the best performance since the beginning of the year.
The vessel worked with three Ship to Shore gantry cranes, registering a total of 914 moves during the shift, leaving a balance of 978 moves, both in and out.
As the shipping industry grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, this achievement is quite remarkable.
It was a double victory for the container carrier as she also marked her maiden call to the port under the new joint service dubbed Mashariki by two world-largest shipping lines, Maersk and COSCO (China Ocean Shipping Company).
The vessel sharing deal is meant to further improve the service level and port coverage for customers, with the new dedicated ocean service increasing its network connecting Asia to Eastern Africa.
According to Maersk Shipping Line, Mv. Cosco Yinkou is the first vessel to arrive at the Port of Mombasa following the launch of the first sailing of the improved service under the sharing agreement on May 21st.
With a new direct connection to the port of Shanghai, it will provide customers with great access to one of the key markets in China, and export customers will experience a great enhancement with cargo from Mombasa to Asia moving on average 2 weeks faster.
Commenting on the latest record, Kenya Ports Authority Acting Managing Director Eng. Rashid Salim congratulated the staff for their dedication and teamwork, attributing the splendid ship performance to great coordination amongst the various players in the whole cycle and right attitudes.
