What is the crane hire cost for a heavy-lift UK engineering piece arriving at Mombasa?
For heavy engineering cargo arriving at the Port of Mombasa from the UK, crane hire costs are not fixed and depend mainly on the lifting capacity required (tonnage), lift complexity, and duration of use. Heavy-lift operations are typically charged per day or per project basis, often including rigging teams and mobilisation.
1. Typical heavy-lift crane hire rates in Mombasa
Based on standard Kenyan heavy equipment market rates:
🔹 Medium heavy-lift cranes (25–50 tons)
- KES 40,000 – 100,000 per day (Cranes Kenya)
- Common for containerised engineering machinery or medium industrial equipment
🔹 Large cranes (50–130 tons)
- KES 100,000 – 380,000 per day (crucialtoolsservicesltd)
- Used for heavy machinery offloading, port yard lifts, and plant equipment installation
🔹 Ultra heavy lift (150–200+ tons)
- KES 750,000 – 1,300,000+ per day (crucialtoolsservicesltd)
- Required for oversized UK engineering modules, industrial plant sections, or precision lifts
2. Additional costs you should expect
For UK engineering cargo arriving at Mombasa Port, crane hire is usually not the only cost. You may also incur:
- 🚚 Mobilisation & demobilisation fees (transporting crane to port)
- 🧰 Rigging team charges (slings, spreader bars, engineers)
- ⏱️ Minimum hire hours (often 8–10 hours/day)
- ⚓ Port handling charges (KPA)
- 🏗️ Storage or delay charges if vessel clearance is delayed
3. What determines the final crane cost
The actual quote depends on:
- Weight of the UK engineering piece
- Lift radius and height
- Port accessibility (quay vs yard lift)
- Whether tandem lifting is required (two cranes)
- Urgency and vessel discharge timing
- Whether night or weekend lifting is needed
4. Typical real-world example
For a 40–80 ton UK industrial machine arriving in Mombasa:
- Crane hire: KES 100,000 – 380,000 per day
- Rigging + support: additional KES 20,000 – 80,000+
- Total lift operation: often KES 150,000 – 500,000+ per lift
For very heavy modules above 100 tons, the cost can exceed KES 750,000 per day depending on complexity.
5. Key takeaway
Crane hire at Mombasa for UK heavy engineering cargo is typically:
- 🟡 Small heavy lifts (25–50T): KES 40K – 100K/day
- 🟠 Medium heavy lifts (50–130T): KES 100K – 380K/day
- 🔴 Ultra-heavy lifts (150T+): KES 750K – 1.3M+/day
Final cost is always determined after a site survey at the port and cargo inspection.
For structured UK–Kenya heavy cargo handling, crane coordination, and full port clearance support, UK World Cargo Ltd works with licensed heavy-lift contractors and clearing agents in Mombasa to ensure safe, efficient, and cost-optimized cargo discharge operations.
For more information or a detailed explanation, please call or WhatsApp Abdi Haji at +44 7487 554202