LAMU, Kenya — The Kenya Ports Authority has announced a major milestone for the Port of Lamu after the facility received the largest vessel ever to dock at any port in East and Central Africa.
In a statement issued Monday, KPA confirmed that the MV Baltimore Express, a massive 369-metre-long container vessel operated by German shipping giant Hapag-Lloyd, successfully docked at the Port of Lamu after arriving from Salalah Port in Oman.
The vessel’s arrival marks a new record for regional maritime operations and positions Lamu among the few African ports capable of handling ultra-large container ships.
To illustrate the scale of the ship, KPA said the vessel stretches nearly the length of three football pitches with an additional 69 metres to spare.
“With the port’s quay length of 400 metres per berth, MV Baltimore Express docked smoothly without any incident,” KPA said.
During its stay at Lamu, the vessel handled the repositioning of dangerous cargo in compliance with regulations set by the International Maritime Organization.
The latest docking surpasses the previous regional record set in August 2025 when the MV Nagoya Express, another Hapag-Lloyd vessel measuring 335 metres, called at the port.
KPA General Manager for the Port of Lamu Abdulaziz Mzee described the development as a significant boost to Kenya’s maritime profile.
“This call lifts Lamu’s profile on the global maritime map, and compares to some of the world’s most developed ports like Singapore, Rotterdam, and Hamburg,” he said.
Officials attributed the port’s growing appeal to its naturally deep harbour measuring 17.5 metres, which allows Panamax and post-Panamax vessels to access the port with minimal or no dredging.
Many African ports require frequent dredging to accommodate mega vessels, making Lamu’s natural depth a strategic advantage in the increasingly competitive global shipping industry.
KPA said the port is positioning itself as a regional transshipment and logistics hub capable of handling high cargo volumes as international maritime trade continues evolving toward larger vessels.
The authority revealed that Lamu Port has so far handled more than 120 vessels, with additional calls expected in the coming months.
To support the growing traffic, KPA is investing in additional cargo handling infrastructure, including cranes, terminal tractors, and other modern port equipment expected later this year.
The authority also confirmed that 90 motor vehicles discharged at the port in March had already been evacuated.
