The Kenya Ports Authority(KPA) has taken over SGR operations at Port Reitz yard previously undertaken by Kenya Railways and reorganized all railtainer operational process with logistics partners, increasing end-to-end efficiency in port operations.

According to a statement from the Authority, this is among a raft of strategic operational changes meant to improve productivity at the Port of Mombasa.

"Dangerous cargo loading which previously experienced delays due to a single dedicated loading zone at CT1, has now been improved following an addition of loading point at Portreitz yard." reads the statement.

Adding "This has significantly reduced the transfer distance from CT2 to CT1, lowering evacuation time of DG Containers."

Similarly, centralization of the cargo handling processes and the recently introduced double deck wagons on the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) have notably increased deliveries to the Inland Container Depot.

KPA Acting Managing Director Eng. Rashid Salim said a total of 10,072 TEUs have so far been evacuated in the past two weeks compared to 9,774 in the first two weeks of the year.

"These initiatives have so far contributed to the reduction of cargo dwell time from an average of 5.6 days in December 2020 to 4.6 days in January 2021." said Salim.

The statement further states that, as at Tuesday this week, the port only had one container ship waiting and four bulk carriers (Wheat) on the queue with the numbers expected to drop in the coming week.