Salim Mvurya, the Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime Affairs, has announced the initiation of plans for the construction of a 3.6 billion shillings marine survival training center. He mentioned that 550 million shillings have already been allocated to kickstart the first phase of construction at the Bandari Maritime Academy.
During a visit to the Bandari Maritime Academy in Mombasa County, both the Cabinet Secretary and his Principal Secretary, Shadrack Mwadime, observed the academy’s consistent production of world-class maritime industry professionals through its training programs.
The Cabinet Secretary emphasized that the construction of the 3.6 billion shillings marine survival training center will commence shortly, with 550 million shillings already earmarked for the initial phase.
Mvurya acknowledged the plight of unemployed cockswains along the coastline, often hindered by the lack of academic certifications. To address this issue, they plan to provide free training for two thousand cockswains starting next month.
Furthermore, the Cabinet Secretary mentioned their efforts to engage with international shipping lines to create job opportunities for trained seafarers who are currently unemployed.