By Shadrack Nyakoe
Kenyans will benefit from a sea-time training program on Maersk vessels, as announced by Principal Secretary for Shipping and Maritime Affairs, Geoffrey Kaituko in a media briefing on Tuesday 17, September 2024.
During his visit to Copenhagen, Denmark, Kaituko secured sea-time training opportunities for 10 Kenyan cadets annually, who will undergo a 12-month training onboard Maersk ships.
Maersk, one of the world’s leading shipping companies headquartered in Copenhagen, operates in over 130 countries.
In addition to the training program, Maersk expressed interest in hiring Kenyan seafarers as cadets and engineers.
Kaituko made the announcement following his official visit to Maersk’s headquarters, where he held discussions with vice-president Camilla Jain Hohse.
His visit also included a tour of the Danish Maritime Authority and participation in a high-level conference on green shipping and decarbonization.
Kaituko explored potential collaborations between Danish maritime institutions and their Kenyan counterparts.
During the visit, both parties agreed to focus on implementing the Denmark-Kenya Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed in 2021.
The MoU highlights key areas such as maritime education and training.
The Danish Maritime Authority committed to supporting Kenya’s maritime education, working closely with Kenya’s Bandari Maritime Academy.
Kaituko also announced that Kenya will host the African Regional Conference on Green Shipping in February 2025, with the participation of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and Denmark.
“This conference is important since Kenya is a leading voice matters concerning climate change and its effect on African countries and president William Ruto has been the greatest champion of climate change,” Kaituko stated.
He emphasized the significance of the conference, noting that Kenya is a leading voice on climate change in Africa, with President William Ruto championing efforts to address the continent’s vulnerabilities to climate change.
This collaboration is expected to strengthen Kenya’s maritime sector and promote sustainable shipping practices.