Opinion | Case for banning single-hull bunkering vessels at Mombasa Port

Single-hull tankers are relics of an outdated and dangerous maritime technology. PHOTO/VistaCreate

By ANDREW MWANGURA

newshub@eyewitness.africa

Mombasa, East Africa’s busiest and largest port, plays a vital role in handling millions of tonnes of cargo each year. It serves as a crucial maritime gateway for Kenya and its landlocked neighbours.

However, beneath its bustling activity lies an environmental time bomb—the continued operation of single-hull bunkering vessels.

Single-hull tankers are relics of an outdated and dangerous maritime technology. Unlike their safer, double-hull counterparts, these vessels only have a single layer of steel separating their cargo of oil from the ocean. This design provides minimal protection in the event of a collision, grounding, or structural failure.

In the crowded conditions of Mombasa Port, where bunkering—the refuelling of ships—is a regular activity, this risk is magnified. The slightest incident could see thousands of tons of bunker fuel spill into the ocean, devastating Mombasa’s fragile marine ecosystem, which includes coral reefs, mangrove forests, and the livelihoods of local communities dependent on fishing and tourism.

International maritime safety regulations, particularly the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) MARPOL convention, recognise these risks. In response to disasters such as the Exxon Valdez oil spill, the IMO established a phased ban on single-hull tankers.

By 2010, the majority of single-hull oil tankers operating internationally were banned. Exceptions were made for some flag states, but those exceptions have now expired. Thus, the continued operation of these vessels in Mombasa Port stands in direct violation of global safety standards.

The dangers posed by these obsolete tankers cannot be overstated. A major oil spill off the coast of Mombasa could result in damages running into billions of dollars.

A 2013 UNEP assessment estimated that the environmental cost of a significant oil spill could exceed $10 billion, accounting for cleanup, long-term environmental harm, and losses to the fishing and tourism industries.

Kenya, as a signatory to MARPOL and a member of the IMO, has a legal and moral responsibility to adhere to these international standards. The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA), and the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) must take immediate action.

First, the operation of single-hull bunkering vessels at Mombasa Port must be banned outright. Second, a clear, enforceable timeline should be established for transitioning to double-hull vessels.

Third, comprehensive monitoring and enforcement mechanisms must be put in place to oversee fuel transfer operations. Finally, Kenya must develop detailed contingency plans for oil spill response tailored specifically to port operations.

Although transitioning to safer, double-hull vessels will undoubtedly incur substantial costs for operators, these expenses are necessary for the long-term protection of the environment and the local economy.

The government could assist by offering financial mechanisms to ease the burden on operators, potentially creating new employment opportunities in shipbuilding and marine services in the process.

The continued operation of single-hull bunkering vessels at Mombasa Port is a reckless gamble with Kenya’s marine environment and coastal communities.

As global maritime standards continue to evolve, Kenya must not fall behind. The IMO has made it abundantly clear: single-hull tankers are a thing of the past. Kenya must embrace this reality and bring its port operations in line with modern safety and environmental standards.

The cost of inaction is too high. Environmental devastation, economic loss, and human suffering are all too real consequences of maintaining the status quo. The time to act is now—Kenya must ban these floating hazards before the inevitable disaster strikes.

The writer is a veteran merchant mariner and maritime opinion leader.