Maersk Deal Lets Kenyan Shippers Skip Cash Deposits on Containers

A.P. Moller – Maersk has partnered with trade facilitation fintech Viaservice-Ke to eliminate upfront refundable container deposits for shippers operating in Kenya.

Through the agreement, Maersk customers gain access to the Viaservice Container Solution, a digital financing platform. Instead of paying cash upfront, shippers can release containers deposit-free.

Viaservice covers demurrage, damage and total-loss charges on a reimbursement basis on the customer’s behalf. The initiative aims to address operational bottlenecks along the Northern Corridor.

The Port of Mombasa serves as the primary trade gateway for landlocked nations including Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan. Reducing capital tied up in container deposits is expected to improve cash flow and operational efficiency.

John Mathenge, Managing Director of Viaservice Limited, said the collaboration extends innovative digital and financial solutions to a wider customer base. Businesses can improve cash flow, optimise operations and move cargo more efficiently.

The Kenya deployment follows a successful rollout of the same platform in Tanzania. It signals a broader regional shift toward digital trade financing.

Morgan Lépinoy, Managing Director of Viatrans SA, described the move as an important expansion of a partnership already established in Tanzania. Mombasa’s role as a critical gateway for regional commerce underpins the value of the arrangement.

By reducing capital locked in deposits, the system helps businesses preserve liquidity. Shipping lines receive guarantees while shippers avoid the need to immobilise large sums of cash.

Container deposits have long been cited as a non-tariff barrier that strains working capital, particularly for smaller traders and clearing agents. The digital alternative replaces the cash requirement with a technology-driven guarantee.

The partnership adds Maersk to the list of shipping lines participating in the Viaservice model in Kenya. Earlier adoptions involved other carriers and a portion of clearing and forwarding firms.

Improved container turnaround and reduced financial friction are the stated operational goals. The Northern Corridor stands to benefit from faster and less capital-intensive cargo movement.

No specific fee structures or volume targets were detailed in the announcement. The core change is the removal of the upfront cash deposit requirement for eligible Maersk customers.

Trade facilitators and logistics operators along the corridor are expected to assess the impact on daily operations. The digital platform provides the mechanism for the deposit-free release.