The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) announced on Friday that it will give discounts to importers using Lamu port which will be commissioned on October 20.
The move is a strategy to attract more vessels to the Lamu port.
The commissioning of the port which will take place on Mashujaa Day comes after The Lapsset Corridor Development Authority (LCDA) reported the completion of the first berth.
The government targets having 32 operational berths in the next five years out of which two more are expected to be completed by the end of next year.
KPA also announced a promotional tariff which will see importers store their commodity for up to one month without any charges.
“In order to promote traffic into the new Port of Lamu, KPA wishes to announce a promotional tariff for vessels and cargo as follows – 30 days storage free period for transhipment and transit cargo, 14 days storage free period for domestic cargo,” said a statement from KPA.
Discounts will also be allowed on discharging of cargo from ships among other services involving the movement of the cargo. Plans have also been put in place to facilitate such.
“The first berth will be used as a multipurpose berth and will be capable of handling any kind of vessel especially the self-sustaining vessels. KPA has put in place plans to install three ship-to-shore gantries by the time the remaining two berths are ready for operations in October,” the statement added.