Operations at the port of Mombasa will continue normally despite the reviewed coronavirus (Covid-19) measures that imposed partial lockdown in five counties.
Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) acting Managing Director (MD) Eng. Rashid Salim said that as an essential service provider, the port will continue with its operations.
President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday imposed partial lockdown in the counties of Nairobi, Kiambu, Kajiado, Machakos and Nakuru in new Covid-19 measures.
Curfew hours have also been revised to 8pm-4am in the zoned disease infected areas, however shall remain 10pm-4am in the other parts of the country.
Eng. Salim noted that KPA will be making deliberate efforts to implement measures aimed at curbing the spread of Covid-19 pandemic in line with the Ministry of Health’s stringent directives and guidelines.
He announced that marine terminals would keep loading and unloading cargo from vessels despite the reviewed Covid-19 protocols.
“The port of Mombasa has since 2020 adopted new measures within its operations in order to reduce employees, customers or business partners’ exposure to the disease. As a port we are committed to handling all categories of cargo including imports, exports, transit and transshipment to all destinations,” he said.
He added that customers who are authorized to bring in and get cargo out of the port are encouraged to do so without hesitation.
“Under the current circumstances the port is working closely with various other cargo interveners to ensure that operations remain seamless despite the variance on the weekly arrival of vessels occasioned by the now irregular, disrupted and pandemic-ridden global supply chain,” Eng. Salim stressed.
He said it is known that the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic situation has negatively impacted the cruise and shipping industry in most parts of the world.
Meanwhile, Eng. Salim together with the KPA Board of Directors led other port staff in taking Covid-19 vaccine at the Coast General Hospital.
The Managing Director said that since the port is a crucial organ of the economy, they were liaising with the Mombasa County Health Authorities to ensure KPA staff who are essential service providers are vaccinated.
By Hussein Abdullahi
