For more than a month, the silhouette of MV Dan has remained fixed against the waters off the Indian Ocean in Mombasa, drawing curiosity from the public.
The ship, flying the Tanzanian flag, ran aground on May 18, 2026, while coming from Dar es Salaam to make a stop in Mombasa for refuelling. What was meant to be a routine stopover became an unexpected ordeal that has since drawn the attention of the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) and security agencies, including the Kenya Navy.
From the shore, the stranded vessel appears still and quiet. But behind that calm image is a round-the-clock operation aimed at safeguarding both the ship and the environment, while waiting for the right conditions to free it.
According to KMA Director General Omae Nyarandi, authorities moved quickly after the grounding. A multi-agency team bringing together KMA, the Kenya Navy and the Kenya Coast Guard Service was immediately formed, with coast guard officers deployed to the vessel.
"The Coast Guards are onboard guarding it. They are there 24 hours on a shift basis, and our Navy is aware. It's not going anywhere until it is salvaged," Mr Nyarandi said.
On board are 16 crew members and four private security guards. Authorities say the welfare of those aboard has been verified, with food supplies and other necessities continuing uninterrupted.
Mv Dan, the vessel that ran aground at the Indian Ocean in Mombasa on May 18, 2026 as seen from Pirates Beach on June 22, 2026.
Photo credit: Karim Rajan | Nation Media Group
Since the incident, KMA says it has held two meetings with representatives of SLA Maritime, the company that owns the vessel, to discuss efforts to rescue it. The plan has hinged on using tugboats to pull the ship free during high tide, when rising waters offer the best chance of success.
However, Mr Nyarandi explained how nature's narrow window has proved unforgiving. Two high tides have come and gone since the grounding, yet salvage efforts have stalled because the owners have been unable to secure a suitable tugboat.
"We hope that by the next high tide, they'll be able to do it. Meanwhile, we are keeping watch," he said.
Environmental concerns, often the greatest fear in such incidents, have so far been kept at bay, according to KMA. The Authority said it found no evidence of pollution during inspections.
Kenya Maritime Authority Director-General Omae Nyarandi (right) during an interview at his office in Mombasa.
Photo credit: Karim Rajan | Nation Media Group
The Director General said that the fuel already onboard was pumped into the upper tanks to minimise any risk to the marine ecosystem.
The mystery of what caused the vessel to stall remains unresolved. Preliminary inspections have yielded no answers, but officials say a thorough examination can only take place after the ship is safely refloated and brought closer to port.
"When it's eventually pulled out, we'll pull it to the port area and have it inspected. Once salvaged, we'll inspect if there's anything other than what we are able to see," the KMA chief said.
Should efforts to remove the vessel fail indefinitely, Kenyan law gives the KMA powers to take possession of the ship and dispose of it as appropriate. MV Dan adds to the long list of vessels that have run aground at the Kenyan coast in the past, some yet to be salvaged to date.
