The dredging project, which took 18 months to complete, was
carried out by a Dutch company, Van Oord Dredging and Marine Contractors, at a
cost of $62 million (Sh5.1 billion).
“The turning basin has also been dredged to a depth of 15
metres and widened to 500 metres, and the call by the two large ships is a
clear indicator of some of the benefits set to be realised now that dredging
has been completed,” said Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) corporate affairs manager
Bernard Osero.
Highlights: -
The Likoni Channel, through which ships access the
port, was initially 250 metres wide. After dredging, it is now over 300 metres
wide.
- The turning basin, the point at which a vessel turns as it
leaves the port, is now 600 metres wide and can be used by vessels that are 350
metres long.
-The harbour, where the ships dock, has been dredged to a depth of
12.5 metres from the initial 10.4 metres, while the channel is now 15 metres
deep, from 13.5 metres.
According to KPA manager in charge of operations Khamis Twalib,
the additional 1.5 metres is crucial for the port.
