Kenya Boosts Maritime Safety and Security Surveillance
By Harrison Kivisu
Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com
Kenya has bolstered maritime safety and security at its coastline through the unveiling of five state-of-the-art “Search and Rescue” (SAR) boats.
The vessels, part of the EU-funded GoBlue project, were provided through Expertise France to enhance Kenya’s capacity to respond to
emergencies at sea.
The SAR boats, which include two large and three smaller vessels, are equipped with
cutting-edge navigation and technology to operate efficiently both near the shore and
in deeper waters.
The EU committed Sh600 million to support Kenya’s maritime affairs and purchase the boats.
These vessels will be stationed along key points of Kenya’s seafront from Kwale, Mombasa, Kilifi, Tana River to Lamu counties ready to handle any emergency with speed and precision.
“The European Union is proud to partnerwith Kenya in supporting its maritime safety
and security. By investing in modern equipment and capacity-buildingfor key personnel, we are ensuring that more lives can be saved in emergencies at sea,” said Henriette Geiger, EU ambassador to Kenya.
Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) acting director general Eng Julius Koech said the boats were made to enhance safety at sea within the coastal counties.
“The delivery of these SAR boats is a game changer for Kenya’s maritime safety. With
these resources, we are better equipped to respond quickly and save lives. Our personnel, trained and ready, will utilize these boats to their full potential, ensuring swift and coordinated responses to any distress at sea.”
The historic handover ceremony was attended by Lamu governor Issa Timamy on October 2, 2024, marking a major milestone in the ongoing collaborative efforts between various Kenyan maritime agencies such as KMA, the Kenya Coast Guard
Service (KCGS), the Kenya Red Cross, and County Rescue Teams.
Gaëlle Pasquier, project manager for GoBlue, Expertise France, said over the past weeks, these agencies have undergone intensive hands-on trainings using the new boats to enhance their SAR capabilities, and preparing them to operate in both coastal and deep-sea conditions.
“This initiative is about more than just handing over boats—it’s about empowering Kenya’s maritime sector.
These new boats, combined with the expertise of the agencies we have trained, ensure that these vessels will be operated with maximum efficiency, creating a safer coastline for all,” said Pasquier.
The training and handover of the (SAR) boats represented a long-term investment in the safety of Kenya’s coastal waters.
This will help in responding faster to distress calls within the water bodies in collaboration with key players who are implementing the GO-Blue project.
In the Go-Blue project, KCGS has developed usalama Baharini coastal APP that is purely used by sea users to report incidences of distress while at sea.
KCGS director general Bruno Shioso said the Usalama Baharini Coastal APP developed under the Indian Ocean regional information sharing (IORIS) system links directly to responders of distress calls.
“We are complementing other government agencies, and we are not competing. Our aim is to ensure strengthened maritime safety,” he said.
Lamu governor Issa Timamy has suffered the most when it comes to disasters bearing in mind that in 2016 the county lost more than 17 people to sea accidents due to lack of proper rescue coordination.
“This search and rescue boats will complement what the Lamu county has developed,” he said pledging to use the boats for the intended purposes.
Speaking during the the handover ceremony held in Mombasa, the state department of maritime and shipping affairs principal secretary Geoffrey Kaituko asked KMA to facilitate their field officers for proper discharge of their roles.
Kaituko also asked those charged with the job of ensuring surveillance at sea to use the boats prudently warning of using the same for illegal activities.
“We want to ask you to use the boats for their intended purpose. Don’t use them for other illegal activities,” he warned while speaking on behalf of maritime and mining cabinet secretary Hassan Joho.
The PS said with the launch of the new boats and enhanced skills, Kenyan teams were now better prepared and equipped to respond swiftly and efficiently to maritime emergencies.
Thus, ensuring the safety of both the local communities and international maritime traffic.
