Labour disputes reportedly driving cargo from Mombasa to Dar es Salaam
MOMBASA, Kenya's largest container port, appears to be losing market share to Tanzania's Dar es Salaam despite investment in the latest information technology, recent deliveries of rubber-tyre gantries and reach stackers, reports London's Containerisation International.
Last year, Mombasa handled 696,000 TEU, up 12.4 per cent on the previous year's performance while Dar es Salaam traffic increased 15.8 per cent to 409,517 TEU. Dar es Salaam capacity remains limited, but only a massive increase in traffic is likely to cause congestion.
But persistent congestion at Mombasa has led carriers to consider surcharges to spur the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) to remedial action, also prompting Ugandan, Rwandan, Burundian, Zambian and Congolese traders to switch to Dar es Salaam.
A dozen ships were recently reported at anchorage awaiting berths, said the report, adding that additional handling equipment and the introduction of a new Gate Pass Module helps, a settlement of festering labour dispute is needed to restore competitiveness.
Earlier this year the KPA sacked many of the port's ship-to-shore gantry drivers and some support staff in a dispute over wage claims and privatisation.
Last year, Mombasa handled 696,000 TEU, up 12.4 per cent on the previous year's performance while Dar es Salaam traffic increased 15.8 per cent to 409,517 TEU. Dar es Salaam capacity remains limited, but only a massive increase in traffic is likely to cause congestion.
But persistent congestion at Mombasa has led carriers to consider surcharges to spur the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) to remedial action, also prompting Ugandan, Rwandan, Burundian, Zambian and Congolese traders to switch to Dar es Salaam.
A dozen ships were recently reported at anchorage awaiting berths, said the report, adding that additional handling equipment and the introduction of a new Gate Pass Module helps, a settlement of festering labour dispute is needed to restore competitiveness.
Earlier this year the KPA sacked many of the port's ship-to-shore gantry drivers and some support staff in a dispute over wage claims and privatisation.