Main-Kenya's fresh push to build Sh2.4 billion maritime survival centre

Artists put final touches on sign board near former Bandari College in Mombasa. [Omondi Onyango/Standard]

After close to a year of stalement, the construction of the Sh2 million maritime survival training and certification centre has finally resumed at the Bandari Maritime Academy (BMA) in Mombasa County.

The project commenced in 2024 but stalled for months because it had not been allocated funds. It is now expected to be complete by December 2027, according to officials. The project progress stands at 15 per cent as of October, 2025. The expansion works started after government released some funds. In the last financial year, the project was not allocated funds, putting all plans on hold.

The centre is one of BMA’s flagship infrastructure projects under its strategic modernisation programme.

The facility is expected to strengthen the Academy’s competitiveness and support Kenya’s broader agenda of nurturing a skilled, globally competent maritime workforce.

The government through the State Department for Shipping and Maritime Affairs, has prioritised the development of maritime training infrastructure as one of the flagship projects under the Fourth Medium Term Plan (MTP IV) to position the country as a leading hub for maritime education and certification in the region as encompassed in the BMA strategic plan of 2023 to 2027.

To achieve this vision, a comprehensive master plan was developed for the phased transformation of BMA into regional centre of excellence for providing competent skills for the sustainable blue economy. The project contractor is China WU YI Company and supervised by the Arprim Consultants.

In the expansion plan, the marine survival training centre is expected to cost Sh3.6 billion and would be done in phases.

BMA Chief Executive Officer Dr Eric Katana explained that the survival centre will have a landing/docking jetty, fully operational training rig with MacGregor hatch windlass and five tone hydraulically operated cargo wings, launching davit and totally enclosed lifeboat and open lifeboat.

It will also have cradles for life rafts and launching gear, fully operational marine engine, four pieces of inflatable life raft (10-man capacity, free fall boat), under water welding bay and commercial diving section.

Once inaugurated, the centre will train around 16,296 seafarers in a period of five years with a projection of 3,000 seafarers per year. “A sea survival training centre is a training facility designed to provide skills and personal survival techniques against drowning, temperature extremes both in and out of water, dehydration and longer effects of starvation in the event of distress at sea,” Katana explained.

He observed that under the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) 1974 Convention, all seafarers are required to be trained on how to abandon ship and escape in case of disaster.

Katana noted that seafarers are also required to have skills that enables them to get down on their rescue boats and save other vessels that may run into serious distress at sea.

To ensure the construction ends within the scheduled period, a new team at BMA commited to mobilise resources to develop infrastructure and ensure the training meets global standards.

The team headed by the Board’s Chairman Engineer Lung’anzi Chai also pledged to support innovation and research at the academy established by the government in 2018 to support the blue economy particularly seafaring in the country.

Chai said it was time to strengthen the academy’s role as a centre of excellence in the maritime and blue economy training. “The board is committed to strengthening institutional governance, transparency, and accountability to ensure that the institution operates with integrity and efficiency in all its functions. We also aim to enhance academic excellence by aligning our training and certification programmes with global maritime standards,” he stated.

He said this will ensure that graduates remain competitive and well-equipped to serve in the dynamic maritime and blue economy sectors.

Chai said the board would focus on policy formulation and implementation to position BMA as a regional hub for maritime and blue economy education, driving innovation and quality across all levels of training.

“The board further seeks to support infrastructure development and resource mobilisation efforts that will sustain growth, enhance learning facilities, and promote research and innovation within the academy,” he stated.

He noted that the board will be dedicated to fostering strong partnerships with both local and international maritime stakeholders.

“These collaborations will expand opportunities for students, faculty, and industry players, ensuring that Bandari Maritime Academy remains a key driver in advancing Kenya’s maritime and blue economy agenda,” he said.

The new centre is being constructed as part of BMA’s Strategic Plan 2023–2027, and a BETA Project under MTP IV to modernise and expand its capacity to deliver practical and simulation-based maritime safety and survival training.

It aims to provide realistic, hands-on training environments — including a survival training pool, fire-fighting simulation units, rescue boat operations area, and other specialized safety infrastructure.

The facility is intended to enhance BMA’s ability to meet international safety standards, thus better preparing mariners for real-world emergencies and safety requirements at sea.

The centre will support training in basic safety and security training (BST) including personal survival techniques, first aid, fire prevention and fighting, personal safety and social responsibility, security awareness, proficiency in survival craft and rescue boat ensuring seafarers are competent in launching and operating life and rescue boats.

The centre is also set to offer coxswain training (for operating small vessels/boats), lifeguard, crowd management, crisis management, passenger-ship crisis management and human behaviour, maritime security awareness, designated security duties and refreshers (revalidation) of basic safety courses.

The first aid, fire-fighting (basic and advanced), rescue operations all crucial for safety and emergency response at sea.

According to Katana, the centre is part of BMA’s broader vision to become a leading maritime education and training institution, supporting Kenya’s ambitions in the blue economy, maritime safety, and regional maritime labour supply.

“By providing internationally compliant safety and survival training locally, BMA reduces reliance on foreign training centres, lowers cost and helps build a steady pool of qualified seafarers, potentially increasing the number of Kenyan maritime professionals working locally and abroad,” he explained.

“For students and maritime professionals, the centre will offer realistic, practical training that improves preparedness for onboard emergencies enhancing safety standards in Kenyan and regional shipping operations,” he added.

For the broader maritime sector and national economy, he said, the centre will support skills development, strengthens maritime human resource capacity, and aligns with national goals under the blue economy and maritime sector strategy.

Since 2018, youths and hotel workers in the country have been scrambling for jobs on board cruise ships which are well paying.

However, the disbursement of resources has been irregular, further delaying the infrastructure and operational programmes.