Kenya Ports Authority has welcomed a Sh 800 Million boat to patrol the expansive Kenyan coast.
The Authority said the move to purchase the bought came as a measure to curb and contain ocean pollution.
MV Fagio
The boat code-named Mv Fagio II is projected to harness the blue economy as it comes in a few months after the first international Blue Economy Conference held in Kenya late last year.
The Sh 800-million boat purchased from Manor Marine Shipbuilders, United Kingdom, was ushered into the inner harbour by a convoy of four tugboats ASD Nyangumi II, Tug Eugene, Tug Duma II and Tug Kiboko.
The ceremony was presided by Kenya Ports Authority’s Head of Human Resource, Ms Irene Mbogho.
She urged the team responsible for the new pollution control boat to adhere to her maintenance schedules to ensure the boat survives the test of time.
Big Investment
Head of Marine Operations, Captain Moses Muthama, said that Mv Fagio II was a big investment to the port of Mombasa and urged staff to take ownership in the new resource.
“We have been relying on our non-specialized tugboats for pollution emergencies but we are glad we now possess our own specialized state of the art pollution boat,” said Captain Muthama.
Another boat
Engineer Toya applauded the management for procuring the boat.
KPA also plans to acquire a security patrol boat at the end of this year and a pilot boat by end of the year 2020.