Lamu Port welcomes 366-metre MV Hamouna carrying 14,500 containers

The Port of Lamu welcomed its largest container vessel to date, the 366-metre MV Hamouna, on Saturday, highlighting the port's expanding role as a major hub for transshipment and regional trade along the LAPSSET Corridor. The massive vessel carried approximately 14,500 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of cargo, with around 5,200 TEUs set for discharge at Lamu.

The containers will subsequently be transshipped by smaller feeder vessels to other destinations. MV Hamouna navigated roughly 14 nautical miles through the Eastern Channel before successfully berthing in the port. Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) Managing Director, Capt. William Ruto, praised the vessel's arrival, emphasizing that it marks a significant milestone for Lamu as a strategic maritime hub in the region.

He noted that this was the first vessel to discharge over 5,000 TEUs simultaneously, surpassing Mombasa Port's capacity. Ruto also highlighted the upcoming Dangote East Africa Refinery, which is expected to further bolster port operations and create additional opportunities for maritime and logistics services in the area. The deep-water harbor and modern berthing infrastructure of the port, with a depth of about 17.5 metres, enable it to accommodate some of the world's largest vessels.

In 2025, MV Hamouna is among the largest container vessels to visit Lamu. Earlier this year, Hapag-Lloyd operated the 369-metre MV Baltimore Express and the 335-metre MV Nagoya Express, both of which also called at the port. During the ceremonial berthing, Capt. Ruto presented a certificate of first call and a plaque to the vessel's master, Capt. Mir Firoozi.