In a significant stride toward modernizing port operations, the Port of Mombasa and Dar es Salaam Port are reaping tangible benefits from adopting the Fixed Berthing Window (FBW) system, widely recognized as a global best practice for streamlining cargo handling and reducing vessel waiting times.
At the Port of Mombasa, the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) has fully integrated the FBW system into its operational framework, shifting from the traditional daily berth planning approach. Previously, vessels were scheduled based on arrival predictions, cargo type, and ship specifications, a process that often resulted in unpredictable delays when multiple vessels arrived simultaneously.
Now, under the FBW model, Mombasa Port allocates fixed, recurring berthing slots to specific shipping lines, planned weeks in advance. Each vessel adheres to its assigned window, ensuring strict operational discipline. Once the allocated slot expires, the vessel vacates the berth, maintaining flow and predictability.
KPA Managing Director Captain William Ruto highlighted the system’s transformational impact:
“The Fixed Berthing Window has fundamentally changed how we operate. Shipping lines now have certainty in scheduling, and we have significantly reduced waiting times at the port. This has improved efficiency across our container, bulk, and liquid cargo terminals. The benefits are cascading down to importers, exporters, and the regional economy.”
According to KPA, container terminals in particular are seeing faster vessel turnaround times and more efficient use of equipment, while conventional cargo and petroleum terminals are benefiting from improved resource allocation and operational reliability.
Similarly, Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam Port is experiencing notable efficiency gains after adopting FBW at Terminal 2, operated by Tanzania East Africa Gateway Terminal Limited (TEAGTL). The system replaced the traditional first-come-first-served approach with pre-assigned, structured berthing slots. Adoption has grown rapidly from 32% of vessels in the early months to nearly 50%, with projections to reach 75% by this year.
Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) Director General Plasduce Mbossa emphasized the strategic gains for Tanzania:
“The Fixed Berthing Window is not just a scheduling tool—it’s a competitiveness strategy for Dar es Salaam Port. We are seeing reduced congestion, faster vessel handling, and greater service reliability for our landlocked neighbors who rely on our port. As we expand the system, we expect even stronger performance and enhanced throughput.”
Mbossa added that the FBW framework supports critical logistics functions like cold-chain cargo through improved reefer plug capacity, benefiting customers across Uganda, Rwanda, Zambia, and beyond.
Both KPA and TPA agree that embracing FBW is positioning Mombasa and Dar es Salaam ports as more competitive gateways within the East African maritime corridor. By reducing operational bottlenecks, enhancing transparency, and offering predictable service to global shipping lines, the two ports are supporting regional trade growth under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
As Captain Ruto concluded:
“Reliable, efficient ports are the backbone of regional trade. Through innovations like the FBW, we are building future-ready ports that support East Africa’s integration into global trade networks.”
Echoing this, TPA’s Mbossa noted:
“We are determined to make Dar es Salaam Port a leader in port efficiency in Africa. The Fixed Berthing Window is a critical step in that journey.”
With both ports committed to sustained improvement, industry observers see East Africa’s major ports not just catching up with global standards, but setting them.
The regional logistics sector has welcomed the port authorities’ recent initiatives aimed at enhancing service delivery and reducing costs for all port users. “The Fixed Berthing Window (FBW) system is a best practice widely adopted in developed countries, and we therefore anticipate significant improvements in service delivery across the region,” said Mr. Elias Baluku, Executive Director of the Federation of East African Freight Forwarders Associations (FEAFFA).
This article was published by Githua Kihara, an editorial consultant for FEAFFA’s Freight Logistics Magazine. For any inquiries, please contact us via email at editorial@feaffa.com or freightlogistics@feaffa.com, or reach out to Andrew Onionga directly at onionga@feaffa.com / +254733780240.
