UN/LOCODE: KEMBA📍 Kenya
Port of Mombasa (UN/LOCODE KEMBA)
❖ Coordinates: -4.0435°N, 39.6682°E
❖ Time Zone: Africa/Nairobi
❖ UN/LOCODE: KEMBA
## About the Port
Mombasa (UN/LOCODE: **KEMBA**) is Kenya’s largest and busiest deep‑water seaport, serving as the primary gateway for East and Central African trade. Situated on the Indian Ocean coast at **4.0435° S, 39.6682° E**, the port operates in the **Africa/Nairobi** time zone (UTC +3). Managed by the **Kenya Ports Authority (KPA)**, Mombasa handles more than 60% of Kenya’s maritime cargo and a significant share of imports and exports for land‑locked neighbors such as Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Its strategic position on the **Southern Indian Ocean corridor** makes it a critical hub for containerised, bulk, and ro‑ro traffic linking Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the African hinterland.
Key identifiers:
- **Port name:** Mombasa
- **UN/LOCODE:** KEMBA
- **Country:** Kenya
- **Region:** Mombasa County (formerly Coast Province)
- **Coordinates:** –4.0434771, 39.6682065
The port’s modern layout, combined with extensive hinterland connections—rail, road, and pipeline—supports a diversified cargo mix and underpins Kenya’s “Vision 2030” industrialisation agenda.
---
## History
Mombasa’s maritime history stretches back over a millennium, when Swahili merchants first docked on its natural harbour. The Portuguese seized the settlement in 1498, establishing a fort that later became a nucleus for colonial trade. In 1824 the British East India Company secured a lease, and by 1897 the **Mombasa Harbour Authority** was created to oversee a modest coal‑fuelled pier.
The early 20th century saw the construction of the **Mombasa–Uganda Railway** (completed 1901) which linked the port directly to the interior, catalysing export of coffee, tea and timber. Post‑independence (1963) the newly formed KPA embarked on a series of expansion programmes:
| Period | Major Development |
|--------|-------------------|
| 1970s | Installation of the first container gantry crane (1978) and dredging to 13 m draft. |
| 1990s | Opening of the **Nyali Bay** container terminal, introduction of roll‑on/roll‑off (ro‑ro) facilities. |
| 2000‑2010 | Deep‑water dredging to 15 m, construction of the **Kasarani** multi‑purpose terminal, and adoption of the Port Community System (PCS). |
| 2015‑Present | Expansion of the **Lamu Port South Sudan Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET)** corridor, upgrade of rail links (Standard Gauge Railway), and integration of smart‑port technologies. |
These milestones transformed Mombasa from a regional coaling station into a **global container hub**, positioning it among the top 30 African ports by cargo volume.
---
## Infrastructure & Facilities
### Terminals
| Terminal | Primary Cargo | Capacity (TEU/yr) | Key Equipment |
|----------|---------------|-------------------|----------------|
| **Mombasa Container Terminal (MCT)** | Full‑cell containerised cargo | ~2.0 million TEU | 4 x Super‑Post‑Paniex gantry cranes, 12 RTG bays, automated gate system |
| **Kasarani Multi‑Purpose Terminal** | Dry bulk, project cargo, break‑bulk | 8 Mt (dry) | 3 mobile crane units (40 t), conveyor belts for grain and cement |
| **Nyali Bay Ro‑Ro Terminal** | Vehicles, heavy machinery, timber logs | 250 k vehicles/yr | 5 dedicated roll‑on/roll‑off ramps, 2 side‑loading berths |
| **Tanzania & Uganda Dedicated Terminal** | Intermodal containers for land‑locked neighbours | 0.6 million TEU | Dedicated customs zone, rail sidings |
The port’s **draft depth of 15 m** (post‑2020 dredging) accommodates Pan‑Pan vessels up to 75,000 DWT, while its **berth length totals 4.2 km**, providing ample mooring space for simultaneous berthing of container ships, bulk carriers, and cruise liners.
### Hinterland Connectivity
- **Standard Gauge Railway (SGR):** A 1,000 km double‑track line links Mombasa to Nairobi and onward to Naivasha, reducing rail transit time from 3 days (meter‑gauge) to 12 hours for containerised cargo.
- **Nairobi–Mombasa Highway (A109):** Upgraded to a dual carriageway, enabling 70 % of the port’s truck volumes to move at average speeds of 80 km/h.
- **Pipeline Network:** A 560 km oil pipeline (Kenya‑Uganda) terminates at the **Kasarani terminal**, supporting import of refined petroleum products.
### Ancillary Services
- **Customs & Clearance:** Integrated with Kenya Revenue Authority’s **Integrated Customs Management System (ICMS)**, providing real‑time cargo validation.
- **Logistics Parks:** The **Mombasa Integrated Logistics Hub (MILH)** offers warehousing, cold‑storage, and value‑added processing facilities.
- **Digital Platforms:** The **Port Community System (PCS)**, hosted by KPA, facilitates electronic data interchange (EDI) for shipping lines, freight forwarders, and terminal operators, enhancing turnaround efficiency.
---
## Economic Importance
### National Revenue
Mombasa contributes roughly **Ksh 270 billion** (~US$2.4 billion) annually to Kenya’s treasury, representing **12 % of total government revenue**. Container handling fees, tug‑boat services, and port dues constitute the bulk of this income.
### Employment
Direct port employment exceeds **18,000** workers, while an estimated **120,000** jobs are generated indirectly through ancillary industries such as freight forwarding, warehousing, ship repair, and hospitality. The port’s **Skills Development Programme** (in partnership with the Kenya Maritime Authority) annually certifies over 1,000 maritime professionals.
### Regional Trade Engine
Mombasa’s hinterland links enable the **East African Community (EAC)** to import essential commodities—petroleum, motor vehicles, and consumer goods—while exporting agricultural produce (tea, coffee, horticulture) and minerals (titanium, soda ash). The port’s role in the **LAPSSET corridor** further positions it as a gateway for South Sudan’s oil exports and Ethiopia’s imports, diversifying Kenya’s trade basket.
### Strategic Initiatives
- **Port of the Future Programme (2022‑2027):** Aims to achieve **95 % terminal utilisation**, reduce vessel turnaround to under **12 hours**, and cut dwell time for containers by 30 %.
- **Green Port Initiative:** Installation of shore‑power infrastructure for berthed vessels, adoption of low‑sulphur fuel standards, and a **30 % reduction target** for carbon emissions by 2030.
---
## Trade Routes & Major Cargo
### Primary Trade Lanes
| Origin / Destination | Main Vessel Types | Frequency (monthly) |
|----------------------|-------------------|----------------------|
| **Shanghai – Mombasa** | Pan‑Asia container ships (10‑12 k TEU) | 12 |
| **Jebel Ali – Mombasa** (UAE) | Feeder container vessels (2‑3 k TEU) | 20 |
| **Rotterdam – Mombasa** | Bulk carriers (55‑70 k DWT) | 6 |
| **Lagos – Mombasa** | Ro‑Ro & break‑bulk (5‑7 k DWT) | 4 |
These routes connect the port to the **South‑South trade corridor** (Asia‑Africa) and the **North‑South corridor** (Europe‑East Africa). The **Suez Canal** remains a critical chokepoint; Mombasa’s draft depth allows ships to transit fully laden, preserving cargo volume.
### Cargo Profile
- **Containerised Imports (≈ 55 % of TEU throughput):** Motor vehicles, machinery, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and consumer goods.
- **Containerised Exports (≈ 30 % of TEU throughput):** Fresh cut flowers, tea, coffee, horticultural produce, and textiles.
- **Dry Bulk (≈ 10 % of total tonnage):** Cement, gypsum, coal, and iron ore.
- **Liquid Bulk (≈ 5 %):** Refined petroleum products, LPG, and chemicals.
- **Roll‑On/Roll‑Off (≈ 2 %):** Vehicles (cars, trucks, heavy equipment) serving the inland markets of Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan.
The **Mombasa–Nairobi corridor** is the most heavily used inland route, moving **≈ 7 million tonnes** of cargo annually via rail and road. The port’s **cold‑chain facilities** enable the export of perishable horticulture to Europe and the Middle East, sustaining Kenya’s position as the world’s leading exporter of fresh cut flowers.
---
*For further technical details, consult the Kenya Ports Authority’s port profile (KPA – Mombasa Port↗) and the United Nations Code for Trade and Transport Locations (UN/LOCODE) database (UN/LOCODE KEMBA↗).*
Port Intelligence
UN/LOCODE
KEMBA
Country
Kenya
Province / Region
Mombasa
Latitude
-4.043477
Longitude
39.668206
Timezone
Africa/Nairobi
Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)
Loading Map...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Mombasa?
The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Mombasa is KEMBA.
Where is Port of Mombasa located?
The Port of Mombasa is located in Kenya, Mombasa. Its coordinates are -4.0435°N, 39.6682°E.
What time zone is Port of Mombasa in?
Port of Mombasa operates in the Africa/Nairobi time zone.
Scanning Local Infrastructure...
About the World Port Index
This data is sourced programmatically. The UN/LOCODE is the official geographic coding scheme used by the United Nations for trade and transport locations.
📍 Nearby Ports
Other maritime facilities geographically close to Mombasa.
Tanga
Tanzania, United Republic of • 132 km awayZanzibar
Tanzania, United Republic of • 242 km awayDar es Salaam
Tanzania, United Republic of • 310 km awayNairobi
Kenya • 440 km away