KENYA SEAFARERS AND STCW

 KENYA SEAFARERS

Kenya Seafarers are comprised of 3,280 skilled and experienced maritime staff.

The Seafarers consist of Shipmasters, Deck and Engineer Officers, Electrical and Electro-Technical Officers, Divers, Fish Workers, Deck and Engine room Ratings and off-shore gas/oil rig staff.

Owing to the lack of a National Merchant Fleet and STCW Certificates, only 20% are currently employed aboard Coastal and Foreign Ocean-going vessels.

Majority of the Merchant Navy and Engineer Officers are Britain, Egypt and South Africa trained.

With the assistance of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), 48 Kenyan Seafarers underwent a six week STCW training in South Africa at the UNICORN Tankers Training School and Dar-esssalam maritime Institute while 900 under took STCW training at Bandari College, Kenya.

Due to the absence of legally established manning agencies for Seafarers in Kenya, there is no proper replacement and recruitment of Seafarers in the Country. All replacements and recruitment of Seafarers in Kenya are carried out in close shop system, which is contrary to government directive on recruitment of seamen.

The Government directive of recruitment of Seafarers states that all recruitment of Seafarers are subject to Government control under the Office of the Merchant Shipping Superintendent.

We know that work is the best route out of poverty. But we cannot legislate employment in and poverty out. It is long and complex process requiring all elements of society to work together.

Therefore, there’s a need to harness the unique power of the office of the Merchant Shipping Superintendent, Ship Owners and Seafarers Union of Kenya to a concerted efforts in creating employment to Kenyan Merchant Mariners.