The origin of Port of Mombasa can be traced to 1896 when the British colonial government built the first jetty to receive construction material for the Uganda Railway to open East Africa’s hinterland for ease of administration.
The Imperial British East Africa (IBEA) arrived in East Africa in 1890 and made the three East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania a British Protectorate and considerably inspired trade between the region and Europe and Asia.
Initially, the East African coastline was served by what is today known as the “Old Port” which has for centuries received dhows from India, the Arabian Gulf, and the Far East especially during the error of the Sultan of Zanzibar.
According to historical records, the Arabs had taken over the Indian Ocean spice route by 500 AD and were instrumental in establishing the East African coast as an important trading region. Along with their spices, traded for gold, ivory, slaves, and timber and also brought with them their culinary influences to this part of the world.
In the 1970s the Port of Mombasa started to flourish in modernization, more berths were constructed creating space for bigger ships bringing hundreds of seafarers with them.
Soon there was a need to cater to the spiritual need and social welfare of seafarers and fishermen calling the port.
This is the time the Apostleship of the Sea (AoS) also known as Stella Maris an agency of the Catholic Church arrived in Mombasa and started providing pastoral care at the port.
AoS made a significant make in its strides as the chaplaincy and its team of volunteer ship visitors endeavoured to provide practical and pastoral care to seafarers visiting the port, regardless of nationality, belief, or race.
Through consistent diligent service to the seafarers, Mombasa was honoured to host the 18th Apostleship of the Sea World Congress in September 1987. This congress considerably boosted the morale of the local chaplaincy and the team of volunteers to continue with the mission.
The Port of Mombasa handles today about 1,200 merchant ships annually bringing hundreds of sailors and fishermen to the port and its environs.
On May 20th, 2021, the Kenya government opened a new port in Lamu on its Northern frontier signifying the need to expand the AoS services beyond Mombasa.
The country also has several satellite ports along its coastline such as Malindi; Kilifi; Vanga; Shimoni and Funzi besides lakes in its hinterland including Lake Victoria which is one of the African Great Lakes. The other lakes are Lake Turkana, Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru and Lake Challa.
As the AoS chaplaincy and volunteer ship, visitors continue cater for the spiritual nourishment of thousands of seafarers calling at the port each year it requires additional resources in personnel and material to continue providing the sailors with.