The Government of Kenya is setting up a state-of-the-art Maritime Survival Training and Certification Centre at the Bandari Maritime Academy (BMA) in Mombasa, marking a major milestone in the country’s efforts to strengthen seafarer training, maritime safety, and Kenya’s competitiveness in the global blue economy.
The project, which is at an advanced state of construction, is being spearheaded by the State Department for Shipping and Maritime Affairs and is expected to significantly enhance the country’s capacity to train, certify, and deploy highly skilled seafarers in line with international maritime safety and competency standards.
During an inspection tour of the facility, the Cabinet Secretary for Mining and Blue Economy, Ali Hassan Joho, accompanied by the Principal Secretary for Mining, Harry Kimtai, urged contractors to accelerate the pace of construction to ensure Kenyans begin benefiting from the center as soon as possible.
“We must prioritize the quick completion and operationalization of this facility. It will give thousands of young Kenyans an opportunity to acquire critical survival and safety skills required in the global maritime industry,” said CS Joho.
He emphasized that the center is designed to provide comprehensive training in personal survival techniques, emergency procedures, and crisis response at sea, which are critical competencies for seafarers who often face unpredictable maritime environments.
CS Joho further commended Bandari Maritime Academy for its growing role in building a skilled maritime workforce and noted that the new training and certification center will have a triple-impact effect on Kenya’s economy.
“This facility will not only build the competence of our seafarers but also enhance Kenya’s global competitiveness and create new employment pathways in the maritime transport and offshore sectors,” he said.
The CS added that as international shipping lines demand higher standards of training in line with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW) Convention, Kenya must align its training infrastructure with evolving industry expectations.
Joho reaffirmed the government’s commitment to investing in maritime education and safety infrastructure, stating that the development of Bandari Maritime Academy is central to Kenya’s ambition to become a regional maritime hub.
“The maritime sector is an untapped frontier for national development. With the right investment in training and technology, we can position Kenya as a preferred center for maritime skills and safety training in the region,” he said.
The CS highlighted that the Blue Economy contributes significantly to job creation, tourism, fisheries, maritime transport, and offshore energy industries, which are sectors that require a well-trained workforce to meet both domestic and international demand.
During the inspection, CS Joho and PS Kimtai were taken through the core components of the new training facility, which include survival-at-sea simulation pools for life-raft deployment, water entry drills, and buoyancy techniques; firefighting training units equipped with controlled burn simulation chambers; personal safety and social responsibility training rooms; emergency response drills, including evacuation, distress signaling, and crisis coordination; certification and assessment units aligned with IMO and STCW global standards; and high-tech training equipment designed to replicate real-world maritime emergency conditions.
The facility is expected to serve not only Kenyan trainees but also regional seafarers from East and Central Africa, strengthening BMA’s position as a premier maritime training institution on the continent.
In attendance was the Bandari Maritime Academy Board Chair Eng. Lung’anzi Chai Mangale, BMA Chief Executive Officer Dr. Eric Katana, and board members Joab Tumbo and Ahmed Elyass, alongside senior management officers from the institution.
The officials expressed confidence that the new facility will mark a major step towards international recognition of Kenya’s maritime training capabilities and help address the global shortage of qualified seafarers.
By Justus Anzaya
