CFS Terminal Services

At Mitchell Cotts Group, we operate four gazetted and fully licensed Container Freight Stations (CFS), strategically positioned to serve diverse client needs:

• BP2 CFS – Located inside Mombasa Port, adjacent to conventional cargo berths no. 3 and 4.

• Mitchell Cotts Freight (K) Limited CFS – Situated in Shimanzi, within 5 km of Mombasa Port, with a capacity of 353 TEUs (ground slots), 1,412 TEUs (static capacity), and an annual throughput of 50,832 TEUs.

• Mitchell Cotts ICD – Located in Kibarani along the Makupa causeway, with 1,280 TEUs (ground slots), 5,120 TEUs (static capacity), and an annual throughput of 184,320 TEUs.

• Nairobi CFS (LC2) – Our newly licensed facility, strategically positioned near the Inland Container Depot Embakasi (ICDE), directly opposite the SGR Terminal, and just 4 km from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. With 1,500 TEUs (ground slots), 2,000 TEUs (static capacity), and 3,000 TEUs (annual throughput), it is designed to support the growing demand for Nairobi-bound cargo.

Across these facilities, we handle Full Container Loads (FCL), Less than Container Loads (LCL), RORO units, and packaged cargo efficiently transferred from Kilindini Seaport to our CFS. Containers cleared at the Kenya Ports Authority Container Terminal are swiftly moved to our CFS just 500 meters from Gate B for seamless processing.

With our new Nairobi CFS, importers can now enjoy enhanced convenience as containers arriving via the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) are positioned directly for clearance and last-mile delivery, saving time and reducing costs.

The importer (consignee), under the contract of sale, should instruct the shipper (supplier) to insert the following remark on their shipping instructions:

Final destination: Shimanzi (MIT), ICD Kibarani (MCF), BP2 (MT2), or Nairobi (LC2).

When the shipper hands over the cargo to the shipping line, the shipping agent at the port of loading will request confirmation of the Bill of Lading (B/L) details before printing the final B/L. These details are then used to prepare the ship’s manifest.

At this stage, the shipper must ensure that the destination instructions are indicated as follows:

• Port of Loading: Antwerp, Hamburg, etc.

• Port of Discharge: Mombasa

• Final Destination: Mitchell Cotts C.F.S. (Shimanzi, Kibarani, BP2, or Nairobi LC2)

With these details in place, the ship’s manifest will clearly distinguish containers or cargoes destined for onward carriage to inland stations such as ICDE Nairobi or Mitchell Cotts Nairobi CFS (LC2).

The manifest, lodged with the Kenya Ports Authority Operations Department, is the official document used to plan vessel discharge. As a result, all containers nominated to Mitchell Cotts C.F.S facilities (Mombasa or Nairobi) will be offloaded directly from the vessel and transported seamlessly to the designated CFS.

If the goods have already been shipped and the Final Destination was not specified on the Bill of Lading, the importer (consignee) can still request an amendment. This is done by instructing the local shipping agent of the carrier vessel, in writing, to amend the ship’s manifest before it is lodged with the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA).

The written instructions should also be copied to Mitchell Cotts Freight, enabling our team to follow up and ensure that the amendment is correctly reflected in the manifest lodged with KPA.

⚠️ Important: These instructions must reach the local shipping agent before the vessel arrives. This helps to avoid delays and ensures that the Final Destination is updated to the intended Mitchell Cotts CFS facility—whether in Mombasa (Shimanzi, Kibarani, BP2) or in Nairobi (LC2).

We provide our clients with an extended free period, giving them flexibility for cargo clearance and financial planning.

Our facility spans 120,000 sqm of open yard space and 125,000 sq. ft. of covered warehouses, designed to handle diverse cargo efficiently.

Security is at the core of our operations. The facility is safeguarded by:

• A brick perimeter wall reinforced with an electric fence and motion sensors linked to an alarm system.

• A 24/7 security team, with additional canine surveillance at night.

• Overhead halogen floodlights that illuminate the entire compound for round-the-clock visibility and safety.

• Backup emergency response teams stationed close to the complex.

At Mitchell Cotts CFS, your cargo is managed with utmost safety, reliability, and care.