The decision yesterday by the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to lift its advisory that travel to Mombasa should only be ‘essential’ has been welcomed by local businesses, especially those in the port community.
Mohammed Muses, Managing Director of All Supply Mombasa Shipchandlers Ltd, says the decision by the UK and other governments should lead to a growing number of ships coming back to the port.
“A lot of the news has been about the tourist industry and cruise ships not calling at Mombasa, but the travel advisory has kept a lot of other commercial shipping away as well. We have noticed a drop in the number of calls from container,naval and research vessels, for instance.”
The reduction in vessels related to offshore exploration is no doubt also related to the fall in the world oil price, but Muses is confident that the potential in the ‘hotspots’ off the Kenyan coast will soon bring back the offshore business.
All Supply Mombasa Shipchandlers Ltd, one of East Africa’s oldest ship supplier companies has been a member of ISSA (International Ship Suppliers and Services Association) for many years and it is the only dedicated ship supplier in Kenya with the ISSA quality mark.
"We have kept investing – including expanding our temperature controlled warehousing – so we have the capacity to quickly meet the increase in demand,“ says Muses.