Mombasa: The Bandari Maritime Academy (BMA) is intensifying its efforts to boost maritime training in response to global demands, with plans at an advanced stage for the country to begin issuing the mandatory Seafarers Identity Document (SID).
According to Kenya News Agency, the SID facilitates the entry of seafarers on board a vessel to countries where the vessels call for shore leave, transit, transfer, or repatriation. The International Chamber of Shipping Seafarer Workforce Report 2021 has highlighted the necessity for the industry to significantly ramp up training and recruitment levels to prevent a serious shortage in the supply of officers by 2026. The report suggests that an additional 89,510 officers will be needed by 2026 to manage the world merchant fleet, which currently employs 1.89 million seafarers operating over 74,000 vessels globally.
To ensure that youth employed on international vessels are not laid off due to the lack of a SID, the government, through BMA, is keen to expedite the issuance of SID in the country. 'It has been a setback for many seafarers working on ships. We are at advanced stages of ensuring the document is issued here in Kenya for all seafarers. We don't want them to be returned after securing employment due to lack of the document,' stated BMA CEO, Dr. Eric Katana.
Dr. Katana further explained that the country has secured Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) with nations possessing numerous registered vessels to employ graduates and provide the mandatory one-year sea time. 'We have MoUs with countries like Liberia, Jamaica, Panama, and Malta to employ our youth. As a country and government, we don't own vessels. We have been forced to have pacts with the countries to employ Kenyans,' said Dr. Katana, adding that they are finalizing one with the government of Japan.
The Academy is also partnering with local shipping lines like Lamu Shipping Limited to ensure their students receive sea time. 'Sea time is a major hurdle in training not only for Kenya but for many countries because the vessels are not enough to train the seafarers in the country,' remarked Dr. Katana. He acknowledged that the Dar es Salaam Maritime Institute (DMI) is ahead, with deliberate investments in equipment for advanced training.
Dr. Katana praised the Kenya Kwanza administration for prioritizing the Blue Economy, noting that plans are underway to procure equipment for the Academy to commence advanced courses. 'We have a Cabinet Secretary and Principal Secretary who are committed to ensuring that Bandari is well equipped to offer all the courses for Kenyans. We are relating well with DMI; we are not competitors but complement one another in the spirit of the East African Community,' he said.
The Academy collaborates with colleges to offer maritime courses, including a partnership with Railway Training School in Kisumu to establish a Marine school. Youth are encouraged to seize opportunities in the Blue Economy through training and certification. The Academy provides skills for the growth of the Blue Economy, offering courses from certificate to diploma, accredited by the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) and TVET Authority.
In addition, the academy conducts short courses for class eight leavers; recently, more than 200 youth were trained as lifeguards in Ndau, Lamu East. This year's Madaraka Day will be held in Homa Bay County under the theme Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, where the academy will showcase its works. 'The blue economy will enable the country to prosper economically because it is an unexploited area that has not received much investment,' concluded Dr. Katana.