Sh150m Mombasa power bank to cut ship pollution

A global maritime centre monitoring marine emissions is conducting research to determine the construction of a Sh150 million onshore power facility at the port of Mombasa aimed at reducing pollution by ships.

Once ready, ships will be switching off their engines when offloading and get electricity supply from the power station.

Michael Muchiri, the director of the new Jomo Kenyatta University-based Maritime Technology Co-operation Centre (MTCC) Africa, says design of the power bank is expected to start in March.

Mr Muchiri said the centre is collecting data on the type of fuel ships coming to Mombasa use, operational efficiency, and the type of engines they use.

“We want know which ships are common at the port. The data we are collecting will help in the designing of the onshore power to help cut emissions from ships,” he said.

Kenya beat other Africa contenders for the prime centre that the Maritime and Shipping principal secretary Nancy Karigithu said in December during launch that it will improve compliance with international regulations on energy efficiency for ships and “promoting uptake of low carbon technologies.”

Currently, ships leave their engines running after docking.

The power station will be installed at berth 16 so that electricity could be supplied to ships carrying containers under a pilot before it is extended to all other vessels.

“When the ships dock at the port, they emit smoke, which pollute marine environment.  The onshore power is intended to reduce emissions from the vessels.”
Switching off the engines will also relieve shippers by cutting on fuel costs.

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has set ambitious targets towards the reduction of marine pollution and climate change mitigation.

The IMO adopted a resolution on promotion of technical co-operation and transfer of technology on energy efficiency of ships.

Funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by IMO, the Global MTCC Network (GMN) was launched December and has representation from Asia, Caribbean, Latin America, Pacific, and Africa.

READ: Kenya beats regional peers to host Sh1bn marine tech co-operation centre

In December 2016, Kenya won a bid to host the MTCC-Africa after overcoming competition from Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, Madagascar, Mauritius, Morocco, Namibia and Tanzania.

The EU gave a grant of one million euros (Sh125 million) for the establishment of the centre to research on shipping emissions.

The research team is drawn from JKUAT, Kenya Maritime Authority and the Kenya Ports Authority with technical support from IMO.

“With a team of 10, which includes seven researchers from JKUAT, Kenya Maritime Authority and KPA, the three-year programme started in February 2017,” Mr Muchiri said.

The centre has trained shipping lines, agents and suppliers in emission of greenhouse gases and effects.

In December, the centre hosted 13 African countries for talks on laws governing emissions from ships, technically known as MARPOL Annex VI.

In Africa, only Kenya, Benin, Congo, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tunisia and Nigeria have domesticated MARPOL Annex VI in their laws, Mr Muchiri said.