Factors Influencing Container Dwell Time in Kenya: A Case of Inland Container Depot Embakasi, Nairobi
Loading...
Files
Date
2018
Authors
Nyabuto, Achuka Denis
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
KESRA/JKUAT - Unpublished research project
Abstract
Congestion has become a major problem at Inland Container Depot (ICD) Nairobi since the government issued a directive that 40 per cent of cargo handled at the port of Mombasa be transported by the standard gauge railway (SGR) to ICD Nairobi for clearance and discharge, and this led to high container dwell time at the ICD Nairobi. Containers overstay at the ICD for more than two weeks. The delay in clearing containers at the ICD is made worse by poor infrastructural facilities, long customs clearance procedures and inadequate cargo handling equipment. The objective of this study was to determine factors influencing container dwell time in Kenya with the case of Inland Container Depot Embakasi, Nairobi. The study was guided by three specific objectives which include: To determine the effect of port infrastructure on the container dwell time in Kenya; to find out the effects of customs clearance procedures on the container dwell time in Kenya; to examine the effect of cargo handling equipment on container dwell time in Kenya. This study was based on four theories: queuing theory, modern theory, theory of constraints and transactional economic theory. The research evaluated the factors influencing container dwell time and identified both the problem areas, potential corrective actions and the impact of the dwell time on trade facilitation. It also examined and addressed the factors that present the most immediate obstacles which leads to high container dwell time at ICD Nairobi. The target population of the study was 1150 people which included Kenya Revenue Authority, Kenya Port Authority, shipping lines and clearing and forwarding agents. Questionnaire was the major instrument to obtain primary data from the respondents while the secondary data was obtained from existing empirical literature relevant to the study. The study employed an exploratory approach using a descriptive survey design. The questionnaire was designed using Likert scale type. A sample of 112 respondents was obtained through a stratified sampling technique. Quantitative data was analyzed using inferential and descriptive statistics. Descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation, coefficient of variation and percentages were used in this study. In relation to inferential statistics, the study used correlation analysis to establish the relationship between the independent and the dependent variables. The findings revealed 86.7% of the respondents believe that by improving the port infrastructures at the ICD Nairobi will minimize the congestion problems. Findings from the survey also revealed that 83.3% of the respondents agree that the clearance procedures pose substantial delays in custom clearance procedures. The findings further revealed 88.7% of the respondents believe that by modernizing cargo handling equipment at the ICD Nairobi will improve the management of trucks unloading and loading of goods. The study recommended that ICD Nairobi management should continuously invest in modern equipment to supplement the current ones in order to continuously enhance productivity of port operations. The study also recommends that the government has to expand to dual carriages both the eastern and northern bypasses which are critical for ICD operations. More efforts have to be put in creating more space in the dry ports. This study further recommends that more efforts have to be put in creating more space in the dry ports. In addition the government should speed up the construction of Naivasha dry port to ease congestion at ICD Nairobi
Description
Keywords
Container Dwell Time