Cargo To Africa

Tag: mombasa

  • East African Countries To Use Electonic Cargo Tracking System

    Kenya and Rwanda to replicate electronic cargo tracking system previously used by Uganda

     

    Kenya and Rwanda confirm that they are looking to replicate the electronic cargo tracking system (ECTS)this year. This system will ultimately reduce the cost of transporting cargo on the northern corridor. The heads of the state summit in Kigali stated that the process of procurement and installation will be finalized soon to address the issues of cash deposits and overstayed cargo in Mombasa.

    What the new system will bring new?

    The new system is expected to lower the cost of transportation of cargo and time. It will also reduce the curb thefts of cargo while delivering from one place to another and diversion of goods destined for its market from the port of Mombasa. The revenue authority commissioner of Uganda for customs

    The Revenue Authority commissioner for Customs Richard Kamajugo, the framework will enhance the productivity of Customs procedures bringing about higher income accumulations.

    Benefits of electronic tracking system

    There will be a pre-entry clearance of goods route before the ship touches base at the port of Mombasa and the containers, which will spare time, said Mr Kamajugo, including that the new framework will likewise give real time data on the area and the status of the payload in travel. Prior to the presentation of the innovation, one could just know the area by calling so as to travel load the driver.

    ECTS trigger an alarm whenever there is a diversion from the actual route, it will also inform on every unusual or long stopover and it will even inform the authorities if someone tries to open the containers illegally. The new system will help in sealing the loopholes that cause these countries loss in revenues through suspected under-declaration of the value of the exports and theft of cargo. The electronic tracking system had helped the traders in Uganda to minimize the costs and time of doing business from one week to just one and a half day.

    Costs of the system

    When the trucks face delay along the transit route, it costs $200 to $250 per day. Sometime the total cost or maybe a partial cost is passed over the owner of the goods. All this process was increasing the overall cost of goods being transported through this transit route. It was not only because of the unusual stoppages in the corridor, but the distance also was a factor.

    The New system will ensure that the countries will get precise information on imports and exports of goods from the port to the destination.

  • Kenya Ready to Blow up A Norwegian Cargo Ship

    The Hoegh Transporter is set to be destroyed after clearance from the Kenyan President

    A Norwegian cargo ship was found containing white powder and weapons when raided by the security forces of Kenya. It is unsure what weapons were found but it was at the Mombasa port that a raid took place by the elite officers leading to the findings of weapons and drugs. The ship is called the Hoegh Transporter and is from Norway.

    In response to this discovery Kenyan security is ready and preparing to blow the whole cargo ship up. The decision to raid the ship was highly influenced by U.S intelligence advice.

    What caused suspicion and how and why they were on board is unclear at the moment, but the Kenyan law demands that any drug carrying transport in Kenya’s waters must be destroyed. Now all that awaits is President Kenyatta’s orders and it will be the end of the ship.

    The weapons were later found to be rifles and rocket propelled grenades of Russian make as well as other firearms. Mombasa’s police chief spoke to a news conference regarding the findings.

    Considering the weapons reached as far as they did, Kenya has doubts as to why it was not disclosed earlier and is entertaining the possibility of a UN agency transporting what was found in the ship.

    Police have also revealed that the crew members will be charged, a total of 20 of them. The charge against them will be illegal arms trafficking.

    Further raids and searches as well as extensive reports suggest that Mumbai was the place where drugs were placed in the ship and intended for Mombasa. It is from the rules and regulations that everything put into the ship must be declared, but the Kenyan government was not made aware of any additions until the raid where they themselves discovered the drugs.

    A spokesman for the U.N revealed that the weapons found were intended for the Indian battalion for a Congo peacekeeping mission. They also revealed that they were placed in the ship in India.

    Their take on all the events was that Kenya was wrong to have raided without the U.N. presence as the weapons were stated in the lading bill and left out of the manifest. The military vehicles were also sent with a declaration of weapons. An anonymous commenter declared it normal for weapons to be placed inside after dismantling due to the possible damage during the voyage.

    At the moment everything is being kept on hold until a thorough investigation has taken place. Hoegh auto liners have confirmed that some of the weapons discovered by Kenyan police were not mentioned in the manifest. Alongside an issue has been raised regarding the initial contract which forbade any weapons being placed inside the cargo. This leaves little room for any justification.