Kenya is strengthening the security of its port operations by equipping personnel with the knowledge and skills required to meet international maritime standards, in line with the relevant provisions of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Chapter XI-2 and the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.
A four-day Training of Port Personnel with Designated Security Duties (PPSD) workshop, along with a one-day security awareness training for general port personnel, is currently underway in Mombasa (9-13 June). Supported by the EU-funded Port Security and Safety of Navigation Programme in Eastern and Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean (EA-SA-IO), the training brings together 21 participants from key maritime agencies*, who will learn how to carry out responsibilities vis-à-vis the requirements for Port Facility Security Officers, Designated Authorities and general port personnel, in alignment with international obligations.
"I am particularly encouraged by the two-part structure of this training. It reinforces the message that maritime security is a shared responsibility," said Maj (Rtd) George Okong'o, Head of Marine Casualty Investigations and Security, State Department of Shipping and Maritime, Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime Affairs on behalf of the Principal Secretary Mr. Aden Abdi Millah.
Mr. Kiruja Micheni, IMO's Project Manager, noted that the training was an investment in the country's blue economy: "By ensuring that port personnel are well-trained and fully aware of their responsibilities, we are collectively reinforcing the first line of defence against maritime threats."
The workshop is organized by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the Government of Kenya. It is the latest in a series of activities under the project, in cooperation with strategic partners, including the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), INTERPOL, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). It assists nine participating countries - Angola, Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, and the United Republic of Tanzania – to enhance maritime security and safety within the region in line with the 2050 Africa's Integrated Maritime Strategy.
*Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA), Kenya Navy, Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), National Intelligence Service (NIS), State Department for Shipping and Maritime Affair (SDSMA) and Southern Engineering Co. Ltd (SECO).