1)     Statute :  The Merchant Shipping Act (Cap 389) section 76.

2)     Purpose of the license; keeping tab on vessel’s seaworthiness.

3)     Full legal text of the business license requirement;
        1) Every vessel or boat owned by persons (not being bodies corporate) resident in         Kenya, or by a corporate body incorporated or having its principal place of business in Kenya, and which is not required by this Act to be registered, shall, if it is gainfully employed or owned for the for purpose of gainful employment within territorial waters, and it proceeds beyond the limits of any port, be licensed as hereinafter provided.

        2) If the owner or master of the vessel required by sub-section (1) to be licensed permits that vessel to proceed to sea beyond the limits of a port without there being in force in relation to the vessel a valid licence issued under this Part.  He shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding two hundred shillings in respect of each ton of the vessel’s tonnage, and the vessel shall be subject to forfeiture.

        3) The Minister may appoint officers for the purpose of issuing licenses at ports where there is no registrar, and the registrar, or if there is no registrar the officer so appointed, shall be the proper officer for the purposes of this Part dealing with the licensing of unregistered vessels.

        4) The Minister may approve forms and certificates to be used in connexion with the licensing of small vessels and may prescribe the fees to be charged in respect thereof.

    5) This section does not apply to undecked sailing vessels of primitive construction or to boats propelled by oars.

    4) License period/validity: One year.

    5) Application fee: Nil

    6) License fee/any other fees: The amount charged for issuing the license varies with the boats tonnage.

    Tonnages   Amount (Kshs.)
     0 – 10       500
    11 – 15       680
    16 – 20       860
    21 – 25     1,040
    26 – 30     1,220
    31 – 35     1,380
    36 – 40     1,560

 Note:   For every 5 tons register tonnage or part thereof over 10 tons add Kshs.180.

    7) Applications for inspection of vessels are by way of an application in writing addressed to the Director General, Kenya Maritime Authority.  The applicant must give the following information;
        i. Name of Vessel, and the year of build, identification number
        ii. The name and address of owner.
        iii. The principal dimensions and tonnage of vessel and her rig.
        iv. The type, brake horse power and the Manufacturer’s type and serial number of the engine, if the vessel is mechanically propelled.
        v. The trade in which she is to be employed.
    vi. The date of issue of the licence and the fee paid.

    8) A list of equipment that an applicant must have aboard his boat is annexed hereto.  Any applicant who does not have aboard the  relevant equipment will not be issued with a license until after rectification of any anomalies.  Any unseaworthy or ill found vessel with also not be issued with a license.

    9) Inspection of boats is carried out within the shortest time possible on receipt of a request.  In accordance with Legal Notice No.150/1994, KMA also charges Surveyors expenses and special fees as provided under;

        i. Surveyors Expense
Except where otherwise stated, and apart from the overtime charges referred to in Part II no separate charge is made for surveyor’s expenses in respect of surveys undertaken within the ten miles of the port where the surveyor is stationed.  In cases where a surveyor is called for a survey or inspection by the owner, and is prepared to carry it out is prevented from doing so by circumstances which are within the control of the owner, his servants or agents to prevent, the surveyor’s expenses must be paid.

        ii. Surveys Away from Home Station
When a survey is made at a distance of more than 10 miles from the port of which the surveyor is stationed, a special fee must be paid in addition to the surveyor’s traveling expenses and subsistence. The special fee is Kshs.660 for every 24 hours or part thereof during which the surveyor is absent from the port at which he is stationed.

    10) Details of licensing agency

 Name:  Kenya Maritime Authority
 Department: Maritime Safety Department
 Visiting Hours: Monday – Friday
    7.45 am – 12.15 pm
    2.00 pm – 5.00 pm

    11) Name and Contact person/office (liaison person) who can answer questions about the license: Mr. Wilfred J. Kagimbi.
            Chief Surveyor & Receiver of Wreck            
 Contacts:       White House next to MSC Plaza 
                       Moi Avenue
                       P.O. Box 95076 – 80104
                       MOMBASA.

                       Tel:  041 – 2318398/9
                       Cell phone: 0724 – 319344 or 0733 – 221322
                       Fax: 041 – 2318397
                       Email: \n info@maritimeauthority.co.ke This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it