Ship chandlers & ship supply at Mombasa KEMBA

Mombasa serves Kenya and the landlocked hinterland — Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan. Figures attributed to KPA put 2025 throughput at 45.45 million tonnes (40.99 million in 2024) and 2.11 million TEU (+5.5%), with transit cargo up 19.5% to 15.88 million tonnes.^[3,4]

—KPA says the approach channel was last dredged in 2012 to −15.00 m CD and that siltation is minimal.^[1]

—Berths 1–22: container berths 16–18 at 12.5 m, with KPA’s website listing berth 21 at 350 m and berth 22 at 300 m. Berth 22 came with the Second Container Terminal phase II, handed over in June 2022, adding 450,000 TEU and taking port capacity to about 2.1 million TEU.^[2,5]

—Kipevu Oil Terminal II: three jetties for 300 m LOA and 15 m draught — II/1 and II/3 up to 120,000 t, II/2 up to 170,000 t — with daylight pilotage at II/1.^[1]

—ETA: vessels of 300 GRT or more notify the Harbour Master at least 24 hours before arrival (ships from a port less than 24 hours away notify on departure). On arrival report to Ras Serani Control Station or Mombasa VTS on VHF 12 or 16; departures give one hour’s notice to Ras Serani VTS.^[1]

—Pre-arrival and pre-departure declarations (FAL forms 1–7 and a waste and fuel declaration) have been filed electronically through the Maritime Single Window since 2 June 2021, by licensed shipping lines and agents.^[6]

—Pilotage is compulsory for all vessels unless exempted, with a minimum under-keel clearance of 1.2 m. All tugs and mooring boats are owned and operated by KPA, and their use is compulsory when the pilot requires it.^[1]

—KPA’s 2026 port information lists twelve anchorages (A, B, C, K, N, O, R, S, T, U, V, W) with positions, depths and maximum ship lengths — for example anchorage A at 17.1 m for ships up to 170 m, and K at 12.5 m for ships up to 260 m.^[1]

—Fuel information: since 1 January 2020 ships declare scrubber type and the sulphur content on the bunker delivery note before arrival, and a FONAR goes to the Kenya Maritime Authority 24 hours before arrival.^[7]

Kenya’s IMO 2020 guideline lists MGO, LSFO and HSFO (for ships with scrubbers) at Mombasa and points to the register of licensed marine fuel suppliers kept by EPRA, the energy regulator. KPA will not approve a bunkering operation until the sulphur content of the fuel is declared: 0.50% m/m or less, a scrubber, or a KMA-endorsed non-availability report.^[7]

—No bunkering or ship-to-ship oil transfer without a prior written application on the prescribed form to the Harbour Master or KPA’s Principal Pollution Control Officer; a Pollution Control Officer or Bunkering Superintendent attends, and bunkering is carried out in daylight hours only.^[1]

—Offshore bunkering and ship-to-ship transhipment were rolled out from 1 May 2024 under a joint KPA–KRA standard operating procedure covering in-port and offshore bunkering; bunker barges need KMA seaworthiness certificates and must keep AIS on.^[8,9]

—Fresh water: from shore hydrants at berths 1–3 at an average 20 tonnes per hour, and at the anchorage by fresh-water barge (up to 300 tonnes per trip).^[1]

—Waste: Kenyan regulations require ships in Kenyan territorial waters to land oil, sludge, bilge water, waste and sewage to the certified port waste reception facility at Mombasa, and a ship may not leave without a valid certificate of discharge of waste.^[10]

—Garbage in practice: notify the Harbour Master of the intention to land garbage; oily waste is handled by private companies licensed by both KPA and NEMA. A county garbage levy on docking ships, introduced in May 2024, was opposed by the Kenya Maritime Authority — ask your agent what is charged today.^[1,11]

—Provisions, deck and engine stores, spares and launch deliveries to the anchorage: post a requirement and suppliers serving Mombasa answer with sealed bids; suppliers never see the vessel’s name until award. If you supply ships at Kilindini, be the first supplier in.