THE UPGRADED INLAND CNTAINER DEPOT EMBAKASI: Enhancing Transport and Logistics along the Northern Corridor

The Government of the Republic Of Kenya through the Ministry of Transport is implementing the Mombasa to Malaba Standard Gauge Railway project. The project entails modernization and expansion of the Inland Container Depot (ICD) at Embakasi in Nairobi. The ICD is a critical installation in the transport and logistics chain along the Northern Corridor

It will serve to bring port services closer to customers and reduce port congestion. The depot is linked to the Mombasa Port container terminal by a rail-tainer service on the Mombasa to Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway line. Imports are delivered directly from Mombasa to the depots on a Through Bill of Lading, while exports can also be consolidated at the ICD and railed to the Port for shipping.

The proposed ICD provides solution to the challenges of limited capacity and space of the port of Mombasa and improves the logistics of the port. The existing ICD at the embakasi has a capacity of 180,000 TEUs while the proposed ICD has an expanded capacity of 450,000 TEUs per year by 2035.

FACTS

Construction Period: 11 months

Commencement date – May, 2016

Completion date – June 2017

Capacity: The ICD has been expanded from the initial capacity of 180,000 TEUs per annum to 450,000 TEUs per annum

Access: 2 access roads to the ICD; one linking to the Southern Bypass (Road A- 4.122km) and the other linking to the Eastern Bypass (Road B- 3.044km)

Infrastructure: Container yard, Station Buildings and Station Yards, 4 additional SGR loop lines (tracks) within the ICD; access roads to the ICD; 4 Rail-mounted Gantry Cranes and 8 Rubber Tyred Gantry Cranes; modern information technology platform where importers and exporters will seamlessly clear cargo

Impact

Increasing Efficiency: The ICD operations include a one-stop centre for ease of operations and efficient service delivery

The facility will reduce congestion at Mombasa port and fast tracking trans-shipment of goods from Kenya to its neighbouring landlocked countries of Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi as well as DRC Congo.

Increase of port operations through decongestion of the Port of Mombasa