Kenya steps up measures to avert marine oil spills

By John Oyuke

Kenya is stepping up measures to protect marine environment from potential oil spills in the face of more oil tankers entering the port of Mombasa.

Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) has teamed up with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to work out a number of policies and streamline existing regulations.

Director General, Nancy Karigithu disclosed that IMO has unveiled a technical mission to help the country develop a subsidiary legislation for implementation of the reviewed Merchant Shipping Act, 2009, which came into effect on September 1.

In addition, the authority has embarked on marine oil spill response training courses designed for members of the regional and national response teams.

Karigithu says professional training is a key line of defence in militating against likely marine pollutant spillages, adding "to minimise human error with its dire consequences, it is essential seafarers are trained to internationally recognised standards."

KMA, she added, has produced a maritime training curriculum, which has been well received by IMO.

"Kenya is set to join the "White List" in the coming year and will be able to offer maritime training in collaboration with local academic institutions to create a pool of competent seafarers who will make our waters safer for operation of ships," she asserted. The need for the authority’s accelerated mission to seek help in securing the country’s coastline against any major oil spill is well demonstrated in the MT Voge Trust incident on December 3, 2009 morning at Likoni Ferry Crossing.

The Liberia-flagged oil tanker, tilted at the Likoni Channel connecting port of Mombasa and the Indian Ocean after developing mechanical problems.

Disaster averted

A swift action by the Kenya Navy and Kenya Ports Authority, however, saved the ship with 35,000 tonnes of diesel oil from sinking and averted an ecological disaster.

"The receivers of the cargo of diesel oil were alerted through the OSMAG Technical Coordinator by KMA. This was a near miss pollution incident, but the greatest danger posed was the likelihood of fire or explosion at the populated Likoni Ferry crossing," she explained.

Karigithu added that if indeed a spill had occurred, the authority would have swiftly enforced the "polluter pays" principle in accordance with the relevant liability and compensation IMO conventions, which Kenya has ratified.