By Issa Hussein - Reporter
Kenya, 8 July 2026 - The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) has launched a state-of-the-art Vessel Traffic Management and Information System (VTMIS) at the Port of Mombasa in a move aimed at enhancing maritime safety, improving operational efficiency and strengthening the port's position as East Africa's leading shipping gateway.
The new digital system, unveiled on Wednesday, provides real-time monitoring and management of vessel movements within Kenya's territorial waters and is expected to improve navigation, traffic control, logistics coordination and overall port operations.
Speaking during the launch, KPA Managing Director Capt. William K. Ruto said the authority was investing in advanced technology to support the growing number of ships calling at the Port of Mombasa.
"We have continued to register impressive growth in both cargo volumes and vessel traffic. The increasing number of vessel calls requires modern systems that can support safe and efficient navigation while maintaining the high standards expected of a world-class port," Capt. Ruto said.
The VTMIS has been installed across three interconnected sites—the Port Vessel Traffic Services Control Tower, Ras Serani Signal Station and the Shimanzi Oil Terminal Radar Site—creating a single integrated platform that gives operators real-time visibility of vessel movements within the port and its approaches.
According to KPA, the system combines advanced radar surveillance, automatic vessel identification and tracking, integrated marine communications, meteorological monitoring, oil spill detection and digital port management tools.
The technology is expected to improve situational awareness, speed up decision-making and enhance marine safety while increasing the efficiency of port operations.
Capt. Ruto said the project also included extensive staff training, with personnel undertaking specialised courses in vessel traffic services, radar operations, port management information systems, pilotage support and internationally recognised International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) certification programmes.
"We have strengthened both our technological capability and our institutional capacity to sustain and maximise the benefits of this modern system," he said.
He reaffirmed KPA's commitment to modernising the country's maritime infrastructure through digital transformation and investments that support sustainable shipping, regional trade and Kenya's global competitiveness.
The launch of the VTMIS forms part of KPA's broader modernisation strategy to deploy technology-driven solutions that improve safety, security and efficiency while supporting the continued growth of the Port of Mombasa as the region's premier maritime hub.
The launch ceremony was attended by representatives from the shipping industry and other key port stakeholders, who described the new system as a major milestone in strengthening maritime safety and operational efficiency at Kenya's busiest seaport.
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