This archive report was first published on 3 August 2020.
On August 3, 2020, Kenya made a significant move in the maritime industry by allowing 27 young Kenyans to work as seafarers, following the country's acceptance of seafarers' crew change through the Port of Mombasa.
This decision comes less than a month after Kenya opened its borders for seafarers, allowing thousands of sailors stranded aboard ships in the high-seas to return home.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has developed a 12-step process for states to adopt in a bid to make crew changes safe and efficient, and is also lobbying countries to designate port workers as essential workers.
Kenya's Department of Shipping and Maritime Affairs Principal Secretary, Nancy Karigithu, noted that crew changeovers are essential for the continuity of shipping safely and sustainably, saying Kenya should position itself as a crew change destination.
'If we make Mombasa a crew change destination, this will mean growing a bigger pie for Kenya,' said PS Karigithu.
With the maritime industry in Kenya having put in place measures to curb the spread of COVID-19, the country is now poised to take advantage of the opportunity to grow its maritime sector.
Global maritime transport depends on the 2 million seafarers who operate the world's merchant ships, and Kenya's decision to allow seafarers' crew change means that young people have an opportunity to work in the maritime industry even during this COVID-19 period.
