Gov’t Secures Green Shipping Deal with Maersk, Boosting Sea-Time Training For Kenyan Cadets
Principal Secretary State Department For Shipping and Maritime Affairs addressing the media in his office
By Aoma Keziah
Kenyan cadets are set to gain valuable sea-time training aboard Maersk vessels following successful negotiations.
Principal Secretary, State Department of Shipping and Maritime Affairs Geoffrey Kaituko led the talks during a visit to Copenhagen, Denmark. The visit, which also sought to foster collaboration in green shipping and maritime decarbonization, marked a significant step forward for Kenya’s maritime sector.
At the Maersk Headquarters, the PS met with Vice President Camilla Jain Hohse where he secured sea-time training opportunities for Kenyan cadets.
Starting next year, Maersk will provide sea-time training for 10 Kenyan cadets annually, each for a period of 12 months. This training is crucial for cadets to meet mandatory qualifications required for employment aboard vessels.
Kenya, which currently lacks its own shipping company, has faced challenges in providing cadets with the necessary sea-time training.
The agreement also opens the door for the employment of Kenyan seafarers, with Maersk considering hiring Kenyan cadets and engineers to serve on their ships.
This partnership is expected to boost Kenya’s maritime workforce and enhance the country’s global standing in the shipping industry.
Strengthening Kenya’s Maritime Education and Green Shipping Initiatives Kaituko’s visit also included discussions with the Danish Maritime Authority (DMA), focusing on the implementation of the Denmark-Kenya Memorandum of Uderstanding (MoU) signed in 2021.
Key areas of collaboration include maritime education and training, where Denmark will work with Kenya’s Bandari Maritime Academy to strengthen the country’s maritime education sector.
Furthermore, the DMA and Kenya Maritime Authority will collaborate on enhancing Kenya’s flag state and port state control through improved ship inspection services.
This will help build the capacity of Kenya’s ship surveyors and inspectors.
A key highlight of the visit was the focus on green shipping. The DMA committed to sharing knowledge and technology to help Kenya reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in its maritime industry.
This includes exploring the use of alternative fuels such as hydrogen and ammonia, with the goal of achieving zero GHG emissions by 2050.
Participation in High-Level Green Shipping Conference, the PS was a panellist at a high-level green shipping and decarbonization conference in Copenhagen, where discussions centred on the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) strategy for reducing carbon emissions in the shipping industry.
The conference explored the adoption of new regulations, which are set to come into force by 2025.
In line with these efforts, Kenya will host the African Region Conference on Green Shipping on February 6 and 7 next year. The conference, which will feature participation from the IMO and Denmark, underscores Kenya’s leadership on climate change issues in Africa. President William Ruto has been a vocal advocate for climate action, further solidifying Kenya’s commitment to addressing climate-related challenges.
Collaboration with Maritime Institutions In addition to his meetings with Maersk and the DMA, PS Kaituko visited the Danish Maritime Academy (SIMAC), a leading maritime training institution, which has been collaborating with Kenya’s Navy Training College, providing expertise in various maritime courses. Moving forward, SIMAC will formalize its partnership with the Bandari Maritime Academy to offer advanced training programs, further enhancing Kenya’s maritime education capabilities.
Kaituko’s visit to Copenhagen has set the stage for stronger ties between Kenya and Denmark in maritime affairs, paving the way for increased opportunities for Kenyan seafarers and advancements in green shipping.
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