Kenyan students at the Bandari Maritime Academy will get practical training aboard international vessels.
The government signed a MoU with the French shipping line, CMA CGM, one of the world's leading shipping lines, on Wednesday.
Kenyan cadets from the academy will be trained on board some of the 560 ships owned by the shipping line.
For a start, at least four cadets and four graduates will be chosen from the academy this month.
The academy has about 340 students.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, CMA CGM East Africa Cluster managing director Jean-Baptiste Longin said they will be the first Kenyan cadets and seafarers aboard their ships.
He said this is surprising, given Kenya is known for its talented youth.
The MD said some untapped talents at the Coast could offer value to vessels and the maritime sector in general.
“We are convinced that you guys can bring more quality to the ships we are sailing,” Longin told the cadets.
Shipping and Maritime Affairs PS Nancy Karigithu said talks with the French shipping line started in March and advanced quickly because of the academy's high standards.
CMA CGM top officials visited the academy and were impressed.
The PS said practical training is part of the government’s efforts to exploit the opportunities in the shipping and maritime sectors.
“We aspire for blue growth and development of Kenya's vast maritime space,” Karigithu said.
The government recognises the Blue Economy sector as the eighth under the economic pillar of Vision 2030 and is expected to contribute 10 per cent annually to the GDP.
“However, to steer the Blue Economy initiatives and realise these lofty ideals, there is an urgent need for highly skilled and qualified maritime personnel,” Karigithu said.
The MoU creates a framework to facilitate support for the training and enhancement of skills in the maritime sector, not only for the students but also for staff at the academy.
The agreement aims to create opportunities to provide maritime opportunities to cadets as well as training for shore-based shipping and ports operations trainees.
CMA CGM will also benefit from BMA’s expertise in training and skills development for its staff.
The French company, which entered into Kenyan market in 2015, operates in 257 shipping routes between 420 ports in 160 countries.
It controls 12.6 per cent of the market share.
Housing and Urban Development PS Charles Hinga said the country is heading in the right direction with private capital getting into partnerships with the government.
“With the budgets we are all fighting for we can buy vaccines and other things. But anything that has a commercial flavour we can leave to partners to help us to build this country,” Hinga said.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
