Taiwan’s InterAsia Shipping Line begins weekly service to Mombasa Port
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InterAsia Lines, a Taiwan based shipping line, has officially commenced weekly shipping services at the Port of Mombasa in what is expected to strengthen Kenya’s maritime connectivity with Asia.
The new service will operate a weekly vessel with capacity of between 2,000 and 2,500 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in partnership with South Korea’s Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM), Singapore’s Pacific International Lines (PIL) and China’s COSCO Shipping Corporation Limited.
The East African region continues to witness the remarkable transformation of the Shipping and Maritime Industry driven by Kenya Ports Authority (KPA). The announcement comes at a time a total of 57 vessels is expected to dock at the seaports of Mombasa and Lamu over the next two weeks.
According to the 14-day vessel schedule, the Port of Mombasa is expected to handle 27 container ships, 16 conventional vessels, four oil tankers and five car carriers while the Lamu port is scheduled to receive five container vessels during the same period.
During a courtesy call on KPA Chief Executive Officer William Ruto, InterAsia Lines’ East Africa and Mozambique Area Representative Eric Chen accompanied by Inchcape Shipping Services East Africa Cluster Manager Benance Sebastian, East Africa Port Captain Bwanaheri Lali, Port Operations Manager Lydia Muchoki and Liner Manager Johana Macharia, commended the remarkable progress achieved at the Port of Mombasa and expressed appreciation for the opportunity to learn about the port’s operations and its growing role as a key gateway to the East and Central African region.
Chen attributed the new service to rising demand for shipping between Asia and East Africa, driven by increased trade volumes along the Asia-Africa route.
He said the move by InterAsia which has a massive footprint across the Asian continent offers Kenyan importers and exporters more reliable and frequent access to global shipping routes and markets.
“The launch of the new shipping service demonstrates our commitment to becoming a leading maritime hub in the East African region,” Chan said, adding that it also reflects efforts to diversify trade partners and improve logistics between Asia and Africa.
He further commended the ongoing infrastructure development and modernization projects at the Ports of Mombasa noting that the introduction of the new service demonstrates growing confidence in the port and the wider East African market.
Ruto welcomed the new service and appreciated InterAsia Lines for its continued cooperation and confidence in the Port of Mombasa noting that it comes at a time KPA is repositioning the premier port facility for greater efficiency, investment and economic growth.
He said reforms anchored in infrastructure upgrades, digital transformation and regulatory restructuring continue to revitalize port operations for enhanced revenue generation and trade facilitation.
“Through strategic partnership with global shipping giants such as InterAsia and others we are strengthening and consolidating our position on the international stage and opening new opportunities for maritime trade in Kenya and beyond,” he said.
He further assured the shipping line of KPA’s commitment to ensuring that the Port of Mombasa remains a preferred gateway for regional and international trade.
Reporting originally appeared via KBC Digital. Read the full source for additional context.