Port of Lamu Welcomes Mega Ship The Port of Lamu recorded a significant milestone after welcoming MV Hamouna, a massive container vessel measuring 366 metres in length overall (LOA), further underscoring the port’s deep-water capability and its growing role as a transshipment and regional trade hub along the LAPSSET Corridor.
Apart from its impressive size, MV Hamouna arrived carrying approximately 14,500 TEUs, with about 5,200 TEUs scheduled for discharge at Lamu Port. The containers will subsequently be transshipped to various destinations by smaller feeder vessels. Speaking following successful berthing of MV Hamouna, which navigated approximately 14 nautical miles through the Eastern Channel, Kenya Ports Authority PLC Managing Director Captain William Ruto said the vessel’s arrival further demonstrated Lamu’s growing dominance as a strategic 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,” said Captain Ruto. With the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Dangote East Africa Refinery Capt.
Ruto further said that the project would further boost port operations and create additional opportunities for maritime and logistics services in the region. The Port of Lamu’s ability to accommodate some of the world’s largest vessels is supported by its deep-water harbour and modern berthing infrastructure.
Its berths have a depth of approximately 17.5 metres, providing sufficient draught for large vessels. MV Hamouna is among the largest vessels to call at Lamu this year. Earlier, MV Baltimore Express, a 369-metre container vessel operated by German shipping line Hapag-Lloyd, called at the port.
In August 2025, another Hapag-Lloyd vessel, MV Nagoya Express, measuring 335 metres, set a previous vessel-size record at the Port of Lamu. As part of the traditional maiden-call ceremony, Captain Ruto presented a certificate of first call and a plaque to the vessel’s master, Captain M.