Kenya Trains Maritime Security Officials
Maritime law enforcement officials from Kenya are taking part in a two week training course on best practices for visit, board, search and seizure of vessels, in Mombasa, Kenya (11-22 February).The multi-agency course brings together 30 officials to learn skills for effective coordination in combating maritime crimes and procedures used to successfully board and search a vessel of interest.The training is part of International Maritime Organization (IMO)’s support for implementing the Jeddah Amendment to Djibouti Code of Conduct 2017, a regional agreement against maritime crime in the Gulf of Aden and western Indian Ocean area, which…
New Kenyan Coastguard Targets Illegal Fishing
The launch of a coastguard in Kenya - one of a handful in Africa - could cut illegal fishing and boost the economy, experts said on Tuesday, although the service only has one boat so far.Kenya loses about $97 million a year to foreign boats fishing without permission, President Uhuru Kenyatta said at the launch on Monday, vowing to crack down on drug, people and arms smuggling along Kenya's lengthy coast."The role of the coastguard is quite pivotal," said David Obura, coordinator for a coastal research organisation, Cordio East Africa. "Just like on land, until you establish security of tenure its very challenging to manage it."Africa's fish stocks are being depleted by industrial trawlers which comb the oceans to feed European and Asian markets…
Workshop Promotes Maritime Security Cooperation in Kenya
Kenyan officials involved in maritime law enforcement are taking part in a workshop and scenario-based simulation exercise in Mombassa, Kenya (31 January – 3 February). The International Maritime Organization (IMO)-led event will enhance inter-agency cooperation in the country and promote a whole of Government approach in dealing with maritime security challenges. The workshop, organized with the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA), brings together key stakeholders in Kenya to discuss practical, concrete steps to ensure effective coordination in combating maritime crimes – through information sharing, unified command, and enhanced maritime domain awareness.
New Land-based Solution for Vessel Traffic Monitoring
According to marine navigation software firm Nobeltec, part of FURUNO Group, its new TZ Coastal Monitoring ready-made packages provide the advantages of a standard system that covers most business requirements at a fraction of what it would cost to have such a system custom-developed. The solution allows users to monitoring and identify vessels and other navigational objects, optimize port infrastructure utilization, detect illegal activity (terrorism, piracy, illegal immigration…
Kenya Enforces Anti-Piracy Measures
The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) in conjunction with the Kenya Navy and the Kenya Police have jointly put up stringent security measures to ensure that all ships, and in particular cruise ships plying the Kenyan coastline waters, are safe, according to a recent Kenya Times report. The move was necessitated following the recent incident in which a tourist ship was attacked on its way to the Kenyan coast by Somali militiamen and had to divert to Seychelles. Among the security measures to be put in place include a radar station operated by the Kenyan Navy on the coastline capable of automatically identifying ships and will be in constant communication with port control stations, says the report.
