Port of Lamu handles MV Hamouna, discharging 5,200 TEU
MV Hamouna is among the largest vessels to call at Lamu in 2026.
KENYA – The Port of Lamu has welcomed the MV Hamouna, a 366-metre container vessel carrying approximately 14,500 TEUs, of which about 5,200 are scheduled for discharge at Lamu, according to the Kenya Ports Authority.
The vessel travelled approximately 14 nautical miles through the Eastern Channel before berthing. Meanwhile, smaller feeder vessels will tranship the containers to their respective destinations.
Record discharge
Kenya Ports Authority Managing Director Captain William Ruto said the vessel’s arrival demonstrated Lamu’s growing role as a regional maritime hub.
“This is the first vessel to discharge over 5,000 TEUs at once. Even our Mombasa Port has not surpassed this figure, making Lamu Port the next frontier in the maritime industry,” he said.
Deep-water capability
The Port of Lamu’s ability to accommodate large vessels is supported by its deep-water harbour and berthing infrastructure. Its berths are approximately 17.5 metres deep, providing sufficient draught for large vessels.
MV Hamouna is among the largest vessels to call at Lamu in 2026. Earlier, the MV Baltimore Express, a 369-metre container vessel operated by Hapag-Lloyd, called at the port.
In August 2025, another Hapag-Lloyd vessel, MV Nagoya Express, measuring 335 metres, set a previous record for vessel size at Lamu.
Maiden-call ceremony and LAPSSET corridor role
As part of the traditional first-call ceremony, Captain Ruto presented a certificate of first call and a plaque to the vessel’s master, Captain M. Firoozi.
The port is the cornerstone of the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport corridor (LAPSSET), which aims to turn northern Kenya into a trade gateway for Ethiopia, South Sudan and other markets in the Horn of Africa.
The corridor includes highways, railways, pipelines, special economic zones and new cities.
Refinery development
Captain Ruto said the groundbreaking for the Dangote East Africa Refinery would further boost port operations and create additional opportunities for maritime and logistics services across the region.
The Sh2.2 trillion (US$17 billion) refinery is designed to process 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day and is expected to be completed in 40 months.
Lastly, the MV Hamouna call reinforces Lamu’s position as a deep-water transhipment hub along the LAPSSET corridor, with the Dangote refinery expected to further increase cargo volumes and logistics activity at the port.
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