The Port of Kisumu celebrated a significant milestone as oil tanker MT Elgon made a maiden call at the facility.
The state of the art petroleum tanker which was launched in 2024, successfully docked at the Kisumu Oil Jetty.
The vessel is poised to play a crucial role in transporting fuel products across the Great Lakes region.
Officials from the Kenya Ports Authority, Kenya Pipeline Company, and Lake Victoria Logistics Limited welcomed the vessel in a ceremony that also featured an exchange with its sister ship, MT Kabaka Mutebi II, which was en route to Jinja Port in Uganda laden with 4.5 million liters of fuel.
Both vessels are part of Lake Victoria Logistics Limited, which serves inland markets in Uganda, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi. During the event, the group’s chairman, Dr. Steve Mainda, announced plans to deploy two additional petroleum vessels to the region to enhance transportation of goods and foster social and economic growth.
“We are in the process of building two more vessels that will operate on Lake Victoria due to the high level of efficiency at Kisumu Port and the strong relationship between Kenya and Uganda,” said Mainda.
KPA’s official at Kisumu Port Mr. Charles Kitur, officially welcomed MT Elgon on behalf of the Managing Director and presented a certificate of first call along with a commemorative plaque to the vessel’s captain, Debashish Kumar.
Mr. Kitur noted that the increase in both cargo and petroleum vessels has significantly boosted cargo throughput at Kisumu port. MT Elgon joins a fleet that includes MT Kabaka Mutebi II, MV Uhuru II, MV Uhuru, MV Orion II, and Orion III, with MV Uhuru II having made its maiden call to Jinja last month.
