Kenya Shipyards Proposes New Graving Dock at Mombasa

Kenya Shipyards Limited (KSL) has proposed building a major ship repair facility at the Port of Mombasa capable of accommodating vessels between 185 and 285 metres long, aiming to serve larger commercial ships operating in the Indian Ocean. The state corporation presented the proposal to the National Assembly Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations during an inspection of KSL's Kisumu shipyard on 06 Nov 2026. The facility would be a graving dock, a watertight basin where ships enter while flooded before water is pumped out to expose the hull for repairs. KSL projects the dock could support up to 32 ship repair contracts annually, compared with its current capacity to accommodate five vessels simultaneously. The corporation says the investment would address a shortage of suitable repair facilities for larger vessels in the Indian Ocean region, potentially positioning Kenya as a regional maintenance hub. No design details, cost estimates, financing structure, contractor or completion timetable have been disclosed, meaning the project remains at a planning stage rather than approved construction. Established in 2020, KSL has been expanding its shipbuilding and repair capabilities, including completion of the 100-metre cargo vessel MV Uhuru II, built at a reported cost of KES 2.4 billion and in commercial operation on Lake Victoria since September 2024. The corporation has also acquired fibre-laser cutting and robotic welding equipment. During the inspection, lawmakers reviewed KSL's finances, noting it currently manages projects worth approximately KES 6.22 billion while remaining dependent on government funding. Officials said direct supplier negotiations had cut certain equipment costs from KES 718 million to KES 366 million, and Mandera North MP Abdullaih Bashir urged the corporation to achieve financial independence within two years.