Northern Corridor Transit Transport Coordination Authority (NCTTCA), in collaboration with transport operators, is devising ways to implement a sustained sensitization program for transit operators and their employees on Covid-19 and other pandemics.
This will be done through a coordinated approach that will harmonize the region policies affecting corridor transport, co-ordination mechanisms for identifying and monitoring the spread of the pandemic outbreaks as well as mapping out policy responses by the individual Member States within the Northern Corridor.
“On post-pandemic action, the transport sector will be extremely affected by responses to this pandemic. The Northern Corridor Secretariat should fast-track the programs such as well coordinated joint border committees and road side stations and wellness centres equipped with health facilities that enables players to fight communicable diseases such as Covid-19, Ebola, HIV/AIDs and so on,” NCTTCA said in statement yesterday.
According to the Northern Corridor Transport Observatory report, the port dwell time has not been adversely affected by the pandemic, though a slight increase in the cargo dwell time has been registered compared to general performance for the year 2019. The Mombasa port, being an essential service provider has been operating 24/7 during the period of Covid-19 pandemic to ensure business continuity.
Most of the Agencies involved in the clearing of goods at the port have continued to work during this period.
“To ensure operations are not interrupted, the port in conjunction with the Port Public Health officers’ have developed procedures to handle vessels when they arrive,” NCTTCA said.
This include mandatory Pre-Arrival Reporting to be undertaken at least 48 hours before the vessel arrival in Kenya’s territorial waters. All arriving vessels with crew/passengers with recent travel history to countries with confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the past 14 days must undergo special monitoring.
Other measures include rigorous inspection for vessels arriving from countries with confirmed cases of COVID-19, Crew and passengers of vessels from confirmed COVID-19 countries will not be granted shore passes and it is only Kenyans and foreigners with valid residence permits that will be allowed to disembark after presentation of Health Declaration forms by health Authorities.
Masters of all ships due to arrive in a Kenyan port are also required to declare their last 10 ports of call or voyage for the last three months and confirm that there is no crew members showing symptoms of COVID-19 on board.
During the period between January-March 2020, the number of ships calling at the Mombasa port has not changed compared to the year 2019. However, the number was expected to be higher in the year 2020 if it was not for the Pandemic. Vessel Waiting time before berth performance was also within the expected time frame, NCTTCA said.
During the first three months of the year 2020 (January, February, March), a total of 137,713 trucks were weighed at the Mariakani weighbridge. The average daily traffic going to Malaba via Webuye was 821 trucks in April 2020.
The new measures to combat the spread of the virus require the temperature of the truck crew to be taken at entry Point and thereafter at designated weighbridges at Athi River, Busia, Gilgil, and Mariakani.
Testing for COVID-19 is also done before the crew commences journey from Kenya. Also, all truck crew entering Kenya are tested at the border post.
Apart from trucks long queues at border points, there is a delay in the return of empty containers at the port which attracts retention charges by the shipping lines.
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