The tranquil island town of Lamu came alive with colour, pomp and celebration as the luxury cruise ship MV SH Diana docked in Lamu this morning. The vessel, operated by Swan Hellenic Expeditions, arrived at the island following a historic stop at Shimoni Port in Kwale with 249 passengers aboard. Making an impressive third call to the Lamu archipelago, SH Diana was greeted by a thrilled community with the tourist joining in for a traditional Bajuni jig with the locals. The jovial tourists toured the UNESCO-listed Lamu Old Town, exploring Swahili architecture, historic mosques, and Shela Beach- highlighting the island’s growing appeal as a global cruise destination. Lamu County Governor Hon. Issa Timamy hosted a welcoming ceremony for tourists, where he commended the ship’s management for once again including Lamu in their cruise tour itinerary. Governor Timamy described the visit as a positive sign of the region’s growing appeal in the global tourism market, further appealing to the cruise operators to consider adding more stopovers in Lamu in the future. Assuring the visitors of the island’s safety, peace, and long-standing tradition of hospitality Hon. Timamy encouraged the visitors to explore the town and experience its rich swahili culture and heritage during their stay. Representing the Kenya Ports Authority Managing Director Capt. William Ruto, the General Manager Port of Lamu, Capt. Abdulaziz Mzee, underscored the ship’s return as a testament to the trust and confidence placed in the Kenya Ports Authority. He reiterated the Authority’s commitment to supporting tourism through continued investment in world-class infrastructure, aimed at attracting more cruise liners. The General Manager also wished the guests a pleasant stay in Lamu and expressed optimism that the number of cruise ships visiting Kenya would increase in the coming seasons, boosting the national economy. Expedition Manager Mr. Dain Adamson, speaking on behalf of the cruise liner, voiced his delight at returning to Kenya, particularly to Lamu, which he said holds special meaning for them. As the ship prepares to sail to other destinations, Adamson conveyed gratitude for the warm reception in Lamu. Launched in 2023 at the Helsinki Shipyard in Finland, the MV SH Diana is 125 meters long, standing as one of the largest and most advanced in Swan Hellenic’s fleet. It boasts a capacity of up to 220 guests and features world-class amenities, all designed to offer an unforgettable experience at sea.

MV Gulf Express docks at Port of Lamu on a maiden voyage with operations currently ongoing. Lamu is scaling up operations with more vessel calls expected, boosting its role as a key hub for transshipment, and trade facilitator for northern Kenya and neighboring land linked countries through the Lamu Port South Sudan Ethiopia Transport Corridor. @SDoT_Kenya @TransportKE

A fleet of ten container ships is set to call the Port of Lamu in a fortnight, marking the busiest stretch yet for the facility’s transshipment business. The surge, led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, delivers on the company’s pledge to increase calls at Kenya’s newest deep-water port as it seeks to anchor Lamu’s role in regional trade. CMA CGM’s MV Lobivia this morning sailed to the Port of Lamu from the Port of Mombasa laden with 592 containers, which will be transshipped to Zanzibar via yet another first caller, MV Gulf Express, expected to dock in Lamu later today. KPA's General Manager Port of Lamu Capt. AbdulAziz Mzee, noted that vessel traffic is at an all-time high when he received MV Lobivia. According to the GM, more shipping lines have expressed interest in bringing ultra-large vessels to the Port of Lamu, pointing to the growing popularity of the modern facility whose berths span 400 metres with a wide turning basin. Following the historic call of MV Nagoya, the longest ever vessel to dock in an East African port with a length overall of 335 metres last week, and 299-metre-long MV Tolten the week earlier, Lamu is witnessing an unprecedented rise driven by its strategic location and superior infrastructure. As a strategy to complement the growing business demand, Kenya Ports Authority is advancing the acquisition of more modern equipment to further position the port, whose role in opening the country’s Lamu Port South Sudan Ethiopia transport corridor is critical. Master of the vessel Captain Victor Bushyn who piloted the vessel to Lamu received a certificate of first call marking the maiden voyage of Lobivia to Lamu. @SDoT_Kenya @TransportKE

The Port of Mombasa will in the next 14 days handle a total of 45 vessels, with 25 accounting for container ships. At the same time, the Port will receive ten conventional cargo vessels, two car carriers, and eight oil tankers. The port of Lamu will also handle two container vessels. #14Dayslist #portoperations