Kenya

Monitoring Ports Performance and Advising on Ports Productivity

Port productivity affects the efficiency with which international trade moves to and out of the region. Whenever this efficiency is interfered with, there are associated costs both from increased lead times and delays, the result being surcharges by shipping lines which are passed on to the ports users.  Consultation with ports authorities on matters affecting port productivity and the subsequent impact on off take and unit transport cost is one of ISCOS activities. ISCOS continues to work with port authorities and other stakeholders in creating an enabling environment for the seamless flow of traffic in all ISCOS ports through:

  • Monitoring ports’ performance and performance indicators,  with a view of raising early warnings and alerting concerned parties on adverse trends, in order to avoid  port congestion, Vessel Delay Surcharges (VDS) or Port Congestion Surcharge(PCS) and other charges which all impact on increase in unit transport costs;
  • Promoting mechanisms and developing strategies aimed at improving the flow of traffic through the ports through benchmarking and information sharing and expert advisories,
  • Being part of the port improvement initiatives not only for Mombasa and Dar es Salaam, but including inland ports such as Port bell, Mwanza and Mpulungu. ISCOS consistently advises on the improvement of infrastructure at Port Bell and Mwanza as a conduit to utilization of cheap lake transport between the two ports, and as a complement to the use of the Central Corridor transit route. ISCOS is also a Member of the Port Improvement Committees for Dar es Salaam and Mombasa, and is a signatory to the Mombasa Port Chatter.