• Port’s 17-metre deep berths primes it for large-scale vessel calls
• Maritime economists said doubtful on refinery’s future profitability for Dangote, with global shift from fossil fuels to EVs.
An Iranian-flagged container ship MV Hamouna has discharged 5,200 containers in a single call at Kenya’s Lamu Port, highlighting the port’s deep-water harbour’s growing capacity, as it prepares to support Dangote’s planned $16 billion East African refinery. This further positions the port to play a much larger role in East Africa’s emerging energy and maritime trade.
MV Hamouna, a 366-metre vessel operated by the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL), arrived at Lamu carrying approximately 14,500 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), with about 5,200 TEUs scheduled for discharge at the port.
Last Thursday September 30, Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man and president of the Dangote Group broke the ground for the start of construction work on his 700,000 barrels per day (bpd) refinery, billed to supply refined petroleum products to eight East African nations.
Lamu port’s deep-water harbour and modern berths allow it to handle some of the world’s largest vessels, enhancing its position as a regional hub. The port’s infrastructure, including 17.5-metre-deep berths, and its ability to service large vessels, gives it an edge over other regional ports.
Maritime experts say the he Iranian vessel’s 5,200 containers in a single call is a milestone for Lamu Port, which aligns with Dangote’s East African refinery’s expected much larger maritime flows, which will rely on the port for importing crude and exporting refined products.
According to the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), the Port of Lamu’s deep-water harbour and modern berthing infrastructure allow it to accommodate some of the world’s largest vessels. Its berths have a depth of approximately 17.5 metres, providing sufficient draught for large ships.
The containers will be transferred to smaller feeder vessels for onward shipment to destinations across the region.
First cargo of machinery arrived the Kenyan port on September 26. Chinese flagged MV Da Yang Bai He arrived carrying about 2,930 tonnes of equipment for the refinery, just four days ahead of the groundbreaking ceremony of the incoming East Africa’s largest refinery.
In a related development, Dangote’s $16 billion Kenya refinery has created a 1 million-tonne cement opportunity for local rival markets in the region.
However, some other maritime economists are doubtful on future viability and profitability for Africa’s richest building a multi-billion-dollar mega refinery in a country that barely produces oil for global
markets. More so, at a period the world steadily shifts attention from fossil fuels to electronic vehicles (EVs).
Kenya Ports Authority managing director William Ruto said MV Hamouna’s arrival demonstrated the port’s ability to handle increasingly large vessels and strengthen its position as a regional maritime hub.
KPA’s managing director Ruto said MV Hamouna’s arrival demonstrated Lamu port’s ability to handle increasingly large vessels.
“This is the first vessel to discharge over 5,000 TEUs at once. Even our Mombasa Port has not surpassed this figure, making Lamu Port the next frontier in the maritime industry,” he said.
The vessel navigated approximately 14 nautical miles through Lamu’s eastern channel before berthing. The port’s berths have depths of about 17.5 metres, allowing it to accommodate some of the world’s largest vessels.
The Dangote East African refinery is expected to receive crude by sea and export diesel, petrol and jet fuel to Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Rwanda and other East African markets.
Lamu Port general manager Abdulaziz Mzee said the refinery will generate a continuous stream of large crude carriers and cargo vessels, which will unload crude and reload refined petroleum products for regional markets.
He said the port’s infrastructure already gives it an advantage for handling large vessels. Lamu has natural depths of up to 17 metres along its main channel and three operational 400-metre berths capable of servicing Panamax and Post-Panamax vessels exceeding 10,000 TEUs.
Maritime experts describe Iranian vessel MV Hamouna’s call at Lamu is another demonstration of the port’s ability to handle expected large-scale maritime operations, moving to playing a bigger role in East Africa’s emerging trade and energy supply chain.
Earlier this year, the port also received a 369-metre MV Baltimore Express, while 335-metre MV Nagoya Express had previously set a large vessel-size record in 2025.
