Kenya’s application for inclusion into the International Maritime Organisation “white list” will not be discussed in this year’s security meeting scheduled for next month.
Local maritime sector players were optimistic that the country will make to the list as soon as possible so that it can start reaping from the growing sector.
Kenya had submitted its application for inclusion in the informal ‘white list’ earlier last month to IMO’s secretary general Mr. Efthimios E. Mitropoulos, a move that brought hope to over 6,000 seafarers as it would have paved way for them to get international jobs. Local seafarers training programmes are currently at a standstill due to the lack of such structures locally that have been agreed at international level.
This has meant that certificates issued to seafarers locally are not recognised outside Kenya and any ship employing a holder of such a certificate would be liable to sanctions, including detention.
“The application is not on the meeting’s agenda,” said Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA)’ s chief engineer, Mr. Wilfred Kagimbi.
“The application would not be discussed because if it was among the agenda it could have been included in the correspondents that have been circulated to members,” he said.
IMO, traditionally, sends correspondents to members informing them about the agenda of the next meeting, for perusal.
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