Kenya has finally been admitted to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) white list. This means that Kenya is in full compliance with the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping of Seafarers (STCW).

By entering the Whitelist , the country will now be able to train seafarers who can work in foreign going vessels and that maritime certificates and other endorsements from Kenya will be recognised all over the world. This is a very important announcement for Kenyan seafarers because their livelihoods depend upon their certificates and endorsements being recognized around the world. Modern ship operations require highly trained and competent ship’s crews. Before mariners can get jobs on ships, they must have certificates or endorsements that attest to their training and qualifications. These certificates or endorsements are issued by flag states. Because seafarers may work on ships from many countries during their careers, it is important to them that many countries recognize their certificates.

IMO announced this during its maritime safety committee 87th session held in London in May ,2010

“Kenya is now officially in the white list which was based on a complete and up to date report on the country’s progress to meet IMO requirements which we sent in April last year,” said Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) director general Nancy Karigithu.

Acute shortage
“There is a serious manpower shortage of seafarers worldwide with the international market currently facing an acute shortage estimated at 83,900 of the 500,000 officers required by the year 2012. The white listing provides an opportunity of creating massive employment for the youth Kenya,” she said.

This comes at a time when the government is moving towards developing a second port in Lamu putting training of manpower on the industry’s top list. IMO has created international standards that must be met by countries aspiring to train seafarers. Kenya’s maritime industry was until last year, relying on a 1967 piece of legislation that did not domesticate the required IMO convention. But the Merchant Shipping Act which was enacted last year has localised 24 conventions and it is on this basis that the country was admitted to the list.