The first ship to ever be fully constructed in Kenya is set to hit the waters come July 2023, making Kenya a hub for industrialization and manufacturing.
Kenya Shipyards Limited Managing Director Paul Otieno said MV Uhuru 2 saved Kenya Ksh 1.3 billion that could have been used to purchase a new ship.
The ship was floated by former President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2022.
Hete is the story as told by WoK.
According to a report on Citizen TV, MV Uhuru 2 is being constructed by Kenyan shipbuilders at the newly-refurbished Kisumu Port.
The vessel appears to be the first one to be built on the Kenyan soil in a record time of 18 months at a cost of Ksh 2.4 billion.
“We have already activated some components of intermodal transportation if you look behind, we have MV Uhuru that already has been rehabilitated by Kenya Shipyards Limited and has transported more than 2 million liters of fuel to Uganda,” MD Paul Otieno said.
The revival of the shipyard which was first opened in 1901, provides direct employment to 1,800 locals who receive training for ship-building.
“What we are constructing here is compatible with what Uganda and Tanzania needs in terms of infrastructure and doing the business of cargo,” Otieno added.
Dutch firm, Damen, which specializes in ship building is in charge of training.
“The learning curve from the local people is steep but they’re eager to learn; how to use tools, implement the drawings,” Damen Technical Advisor Raymond Baker said.
MV Uhuru 2
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta the floatation of MV Uhuru 2 in August 2022 at the Kenya Shipyards Limited at the Kisumu Port.
The 100-meter vessel has the capacity to carry up 22 wagons and an estimated capacity of 2 million litres of crude oil per trip.
KSL offers among other services major and minor repairs, refits, periodical maintenance, general engineering as well as civil and modular structures.
The vessel is expected to augment MV Uhuru 1 which was built in 1966 in shipment of oil and other goods to Uganda and Tanzania through Lake Victoria.
