Maritime agencies in Kenya are examining critical control and compliance measures to be carried out on ships entering the country’s ports, to ensure maritime security.
A national training programme delivered by IMO in Mombasa (24-28 June 2024) aims to train officials in maritime security control and compliance, as required under the International Convention on Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS regulation XI-2).
Fifteen participants representing the country’s key maritime agencies gained the relevant knowledge and skills regarding best practices to promote and improve understanding of the requirements for an effective and adequately staffed control and compliance regime.
Maritime agencies in attendance included the Kenya Coast Guard Services (KCGS), Kenya Maritime Agency (KMA), Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), State Department of Shipping and Maritime (SDSM), Port Management Association of Eastern and Southern Africa (PMAESA) and Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
The initiative is part of the EU-funded project on Port Security and Safety of Navigation in Eastern and Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean. These regions cover maritime trade routes critical to the economic development of the Global South, thus requiring strong regional cooperation, maritime enforcement institutions and rigorous compliance regimes.
Under this project, IMO aims to assist nine participating countries to enhance maritime security and safety within the region in line with the 2050 Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy.