Maritime Logistics Practices and Performance of Shipping Companies in Kenya

Inefficiencies in shipboard and ship–port interface logistics practices continue to constrain the performance of shipping companies in Kenya, particularly those operating through the Port of Mombasa. Persistent challenges, including operational delays, poor stakeholder coordination, safety risks, and high operating costs, undermine service reliability, operational efficiency, and competitiveness in the global maritime industry. Despite ongoing investments in port infrastructure and reforms aimed at improving trade facilitation, shipping companies continue to experience performance gaps linked to operational practices at sea and during port interactions. This study investigates the effect of maritime logistics practices on the performance of shipping companies in Kenya, with a specific focus on voyage navigation management and port call coordination. The study is anchored on the Resource-Based View and Systems Theory, which explain how internal operational capabilities and system-wide coordination influence organizational performance and efficiency. A descriptive survey research design was adopted to examine these relationships. The target population comprised 249 registered shipping companies in Kenya, from which a sample of 153 firms was selected using Yamane's formula and simple random sampling. Primary data was collected from operations managers using structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical techniques. The findings reveal that voyage navigation management significantly enhances shipping company performance through improved route planning, fuel efficiency, and schedule reliability. Port call coordination was also found to have a strong positive effect on performance by improving synchronization of vessel arrivals, berthing processes, and port service delivery, thereby reducing turnaround time and minimizing delays. The study concludes that effective management of navigation and port coordination practices is critical in improving operational efficiency, cost management, and service reliability in the shipping sector. It recommends that shipping companies invest in advanced navigation technologies, enhance crew decision-support systems, and strengthen coordination with port stakeholders by adopting integrated digital platforms to improve real-time communication and operational integration.