Kenya Shipyards Limited plans a dock for vessels up to 285 metres long as it seeks more repair business in the Indian Ocean.
Kenya Shipyards Limited has proposed a Mombasa ship repair facility to serve larger vessels operating in the Indian Ocean. The state corporation wants to build a graving dock at the Port of Mombasa.
The specialised dock would allow ships to leave the water for repairs and maintenance. It would accommodate vessels measuring between 185 and 285 metres.
The corporation presented its expansion plans to the National Assembly Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations. Committee members inspected its Kisumu shipyard on November 6 and also examined proposed Lake Turkana passenger ferry services.
Mombasa ship repair plan targets regional demand
Kenya Shipyards estimates that the proposed dock could handle up to 32 repair contracts annually. Its current facilities can accommodate only five vessels at a time.
The proposal comes amid concerns about limited access to adequate repair facilities for ships operating in the Indian Ocean. The corporation therefore seeks to expand its operations into that regional market.
Meanwhile, Mombasa Port faces scrutiny over its performance. The World Bank placed it among the world’s worst-performing ports in its 2024 assessment, citing congestion, administrative delays and operational inefficiencies.
Kenya Shipyards has also been expanding local vessel manufacturing, maintenance and repair capacity since its establishment in 2020.
MPs press for financial independence
Among the corporation’s projects is MV Uhuru II, a 100-metre cargo vessel valued at Ksh2.4 billion. It has operated on Lake Victoria since September 2024, carrying cargo between Kisumu Port and Uganda’s Port Bell.
To strengthen production, the corporation has acquired fibre-laser cutting machines and robotic welding systems. It has also acquired technology for making High-Density Polyethylene boats.
Head of Production Brigadier Peter Muthungu told MPs that direct engagement with equipment suppliers had cut costs. He said costs fell from Ksh718 million to Ksh366 million.
However, lawmakers questioned its continued dependence on government funding despite managing projects worth Ksh6.22 billion. Management explained that clients pay in stages after the corporation completes agreed project milestones.
As a result, it faces gaps between spending money on projects and receiving payment. Mandera North MP Abdullaih Bashir challenged the corporation to achieve financial independence within the next two financial years.
