PORT GUIDE · FOR OFFICERS, MASTERS AND SHORE TEAMS
Mombasa
Pilot
updated Dec 2011- Mombasa pilot boarding place Pilot boards04°06.9′S 039°44.2′E
Compulsory for all vessels. Available 24 hours, except tankers and other vessels carrying dangerous cargoes, which are daylight only. 48 hours notice is required. Pilots board 2nm SE of Fairway Lightbuoy.
As laden tankers are berthed at slack water, pilots board such vessels at least 1.5 hours before HW.
When embarking a pilot, a good lee should be provided and speed maintained at about 5-6kts, or as required by the pilot boat. There are occasions when it is preferential to provide a lee from the swell rather than from the wind; advice from the port should be obtained if in doubt.
Pilot boards in position 04°06.91'S 039°44.15'E (2nm SE of the Fairway Lightbuoy).
Key data
updated Feb 2024Size limits
LOA 304.16m, beam 50m, draught 14.0m, 112,147DWT.
Water density
1025.
Load line zone
Tropical.
Tides
Range 4.0m springs; 2.5m neaps.
Max draft per terminal
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kipevu Container Terminal | 14.00 m | 304 m | 3 |
| Mombasa Container Terminal | 13.50 m | 300 m | 4 |
| Kipevu Oil Terminal | 13.25 m | 256 m | 6 |
| Kilindini Harbour | 11.50 m | 294 m | 9 |
| Mbarki Wharf | — | 252 m | 3 |
| Port Rietz | 10.00 m | 239 m | 4 |
| Shimanzi Oil Terminal | 9.75 m | 200 m | 1 |
| Base Titanium Terminal | 8.00 m | 200 m | 1 |
| Boss Freight Terminal | — | 105 m | 1 |
Deepest first. The draught is the largest any of the terminal's berths states; a dash means the source gives none.
Approach
updated Apr 2021Approach
Care must be taken to alter course in good time to get on this leading line and great attention must be paid to steering, especially during the strength of the ebb.
The entrance channel is constricted by the foul ground, the W extremity of which is marked by a lightbuoy extending as much as 0.52nm offshore from the vicinity of Mackenzie Point and the leading line lies close to the W side of the channel.
When approaching Ras Mitani Light (white beacon, 6m in height), exhibited close off Ras Mitani 0.5nm N of Ras Serani, keep slightly E of the leading line in order to clear a projection of the fringing reef close S of the light beacon.
Having passed Ras Mitani Light, continue slightly E of the leading line to avoid foul ground.
Port limits
The seaward limits are from Ras Kungwongbe to a position 0.5nm S of Ras Mwakisenge. The port includes Kilindini Harbour, Port Reitz, the Old Port, Port Tudur and all tidal waters surrounding Mombasa Island.
Traffic schemes and VTS
A Vessel Tracking and Management System (VTMS) has recently been installed and includes radar and AIS tracking.
Anchorages
There are 12 anchorages for ocean freighters ranging from 6.0-12.0m draught. Anchorage outside the port area is not recommended due to poor holding ground, a very strong N'ly current and heavy swell.
Prohibited anchorages: Anchoring is prohibited in the entrance to Mombasa between a line about 1.5nm SE of Ras Serani and a line between Ras Bofu and Telegraph Point.
On the E side of Mombasa Island anchorage is prohibited throughout Mombasa Harbour and in Port Tudor. Only vessels waiting to load or discharge at Old Port Jetty are permitted to anchor off the jetty prior to their operations.
Restricted areas: An area bounded on the N by Kipevu Bridge and on the S by a line from the SE corner of Berth 11 to a position 150m S of Berth 10.
Within 150m of Kipevu Oil Terminal, and within 150m of any vessel berthed there.
Restrictions
A pontoon road bridge spans the harbour between Ras Kiberamini and the mainland.
Nyali Bridge, a concrete structure with vertical clearance of 12.0m spans the harbour between Ras Kisauni and Mombasa Island.
Under Keel Clearance (UKC): Approach channel: Vessels required to have UKC of 2.4m during the SW monsoons and 1.8m during the NE monsoons. Tankers drawing up to 12.8m may enter harbour at HW, deeper draught vessels drawing up to 13.4m can only be taken in during ideal conditions.
Inner Harbour: All vessels required to have UKC of 1m and 15% of the draught for laden tankers.
Tugs
Compulsory, there are 7 harbour tugs available 1,000-4,000bhp.
Mooring
Mooring services are provided by the port authority. The service is charged per operations.
Charts and publications
BA 616, 666, 8027, 2949, 3361. Admiralty Pilot NP3, NP286(8).
Reporting before arrival
updated Jul 2016ETA and pre-arrival notices
ETA should be sent 24 hours prior to arrival to the Kenya Port Authority including details of cargo onboard, (cargo manifest), LOA of vessel and arrival draught.
ETA to customs authority should include cargo onboard and particulars of the vessel. Cargo Manifest indicating true particulars of the cargo onboard. In case of additional cargo a supplementary manifest should be submitted. In case of amendments in particulars of cargo a C10 form should also be submitted.
Communications
VHF: Port Control and Pilots: Ch 16 and 12, throughout 24 hours. Tugs: Ch 12.
Mombasa VTS Centre (Port Control Tower 89 Signal Station): Ch 16, 12. Tel: +254 41 211 3541.
Vessels are required to keep watch on VHF Ch 12, 3 hours before berthing and unberthing, and at all times while at anchorage or at the mooring buoys.
Health
Ship Sanitation Control Certificate and Ship Sanitation Control Exemption Certificates issued.
Flags
Kenya National Flag, Q Flag, Pilot Flag, Ship's National Flag.
Notices and regulations
Port Operations: The port operates throughout 24 hours. The following types of vessels are limited to daylight hours handling only: Tankers, vessels carrying dangerous cargoes, vessels longer than LOA 200m and vessels constrained in any way.
Vessels leaving the port have priority over vessels entering; vessels about to enter must remain outside the harbour until a vessel leaving has passed clear.
All vessels underway and approaching Likoni Ferry Crossing should sound one prolonged blast.
Large vessels should enter at high water, or during the first ebb. All vessels without local knowledge should enter on the ebb.
At Shimanzi Oil Terminal and at Berths 8, 9 and 10, vessels are berthed port side-to on the ingoing tidal stream when the tidal range is 2.5m or more during the day, or 1.9m or more at night.
Oily Water and Sludge Discharge: A modern waste management facility for handling waste oils and oily water from ships is in operation The facility is operated by EAM Environmental Management Co Ltd and fully meets the requirements of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL 73/78).
Cleaning tanks or bilges is prohibited within 3nm of the port limits, and no oil of any description is to be allowed to escape into the harbour.
Inspections
Port State Control here: Indian Ocean MOU.
ISPS
ISPS Designated Authority: Kenya Ports Authority.
Position: Port Facility Security Officer.
Address: PO Box 95009, Mombasa, Kenya.
Tel: +254 41 312211
Fax: +254 41 311867
Mob: +254 722 415087
Telex: +254 41 21243 DIRKPA KE
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.kenya.ports.com
For further ISPS information see IMO website http://www.imo.org
Port services
updated Jan 2019Repairs
Various ship repair facilities are available in Mombasa and the largest of these are found at the African Marine and General Engineering Co (AMGECO) and Southern Engineering Co.
Bunkers, water and stores
Fresh water: Available from shore hydrants at Berths 1 to 3. Fresh water available at anchorage and other berths by barge and harbour tug.
Bunkering: Available from Shimanzi and Kipevu Terminals and by barge.
Stores: Quantities sometimes limited.
Medical
Ganjoni Hospital in Mombasa, 4km
Crew change
Crew change possible at berth or stream. Under certain circumstances can be disembarked outside the port limit by prior arrangement with agent/Port Authority.
Transport
Nearest airport: Moi International Airport in Mombasa, 7km
Airport facilities: Passenger and freight service available.
Nearest railway: Mombasa, (5.0km).
The port is linked to the hinterland in Kenya and Uganda by a railway line. The railway network inside the port is 1.5km.
Working hours
Mon to Fri: Normally 0700-1500hrs and 1500-2300hrs, (2300-0700hrs overtime on request). Sat, Sun and Public Holidays constitute overtime.
About Mombasa
updated Sep 2026Where it is
Mombasa is a large, sheltered natural harbour made up of Port Kilindini, Port Reitz, the Old Port, Port Tudor and the whole of the tidal water surrounding Mombasa Island.
The port
Mombasa is the largest port in Kenya, handling not only the bulk of Kenya's foreign trade but also that of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, eastern Congo (Democratic Republic) and southern Sudan. The primary exports are coffee, tea, cotton, oilseeds, nuts, kernels, soda ash and cement. Imports include crude oil, LPG, fertilisers, steel, grain, vehicles, and machinery. The port is regularly visited by cruise ships and also offers drydock and ship repair facilities.
Traffic
Approx 45,450,000t of cargo, 2,110,000TEU and 1,800 vessels handled annually.
Questions about Mombasa
Where does the pilot board at Mombasa?
The pilot boards at Mombasa pilot boarding place, 04°06.9′S 039°44.2′E.
What time zone is Mombasa in?
Local time at Mombasa is UTC+3. No summer time.
What is the maximum draft at Mombasa?
The deepest berth listed is at Kipevu Container Terminal: 14.00 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.
What is the water density at Mombasa?
1025.
Which load line zone is Mombasa in?
Tropical.
Who carries out Port State Control at Mombasa?
Port State Control at Mombasa: Indian Ocean MOU.
What is the UN/LOCODE of Mombasa?
The UN/LOCODE of Mombasa is KEMBA.
Tips from seafarers
What crews who called at Mombasa say: pilot boarding, the agent's papers, inspections, shore leave. Each tip is shown with the writer's rank and ship type, and an AI summary sits on top once there are three or more.
A planning aid, not for navigation. These facts come from public sources and each section shows how old it is. Check with the port, your agent, your ENCs and official publications. Spotted something wrong? Tell us on the feedback board.