The Port of Lamu has marked another operational milestone after receiving a large vehicle carrier that diverted cargo originally scheduled for the Middle East.
The 9,000-capacity Pure Car Carrier MV Grande Auckland made its maiden call at the port on Tuesday, March 10, where it began offloading 469 brand-new vehicles manufactured in Europe.
The vehicles, which were originally scheduled for discharge at Port of Jebel Ali; the largest and busiest port in the Middle East, were instead offloaded at Lamu for onward shipment to Middle Eastern markets.
The vessel was received by Lamu Port General Manager Captain Aziz Mzee, who presented a certificate of first call to the ship’s master Captain Uros Golsuf during a brief ceremony at the port.
Captain Aziz said the decision by the vessel operator to call at Lamu on its voyage from Europe to Mumbai demonstrates growing confidence in the port’s efficiency and strategic position along the Indian Ocean shipping corridor.
He also commended Nisomar Shipping Agency Ltd for selecting Lamu as a transshipment hub, describing it as one of the safest and most cost-effective ports in the Indian Ocean for Middle East-bound cargo.
According to the port management, 43 cargo vessels—including container ships and fishing vessels—have docked at Lamu since January, bringing the total number of ships handled at the facility to between 130 and 143 since operations began.
Speaking during the event, Munir Minas, Chartering and Business Development Manager for Africa at Nisomar Shipping Agency, said the port has demonstrated strong operational standards that continue to attract international shipping lines.
He noted that security considerations for the high-value motor vehicles, coupled with Lamu’s proximity to Middle Eastern markets compared to alternatives such as Madagascar, made the Kenyan port a more viable transshipment point.
The offloading operations are expected to continue through the night, with the vessel scheduled to depart on Wednesday once the discharge is complete.
The development adds to growing activity at the Port of Lamu, which is part of the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport Corridor, a major regional infrastructure project aimed at transforming Kenya into a key logistics and trade hub for East Africa and the wider Indian Ocean region.
