Civilian Vessels Deserve Civilian Crews – A Case for RV Utafiti and MV Doria

By Andrew Mwangura

Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com

The recent deployment of military personnel to crew Kenya’s premier research vessel – RV- Utafiti and patrol boat _MV_ _Doria_ raises serious concerns about the appropriate manning of civilian marine assets.

These vessels, owned by the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) and the State Department for Fisheries respectively, should be operated by professional merchant mariners rather than military personnel.

This is not merely a matter of ownership – it is about operational efficiency, research effectiveness, and the proper deployment of our nation’s resources. 

While our military personnel are highly trained in their specific duties, merchant mariners possess specialized skills and certifications specifically tailored to civilian maritime operations and research support.

RV Utafiti, as a research vessel, requires crew members who understand the nuances of scientific operations at sea. From deploying delicate research equipment to maintaining specific vessel speeds and positions during data collection, these operations demand expertise that merchant mariners regularly train for and perform.

The vessel’s primary mission is to conduct marine research, not military operations, and its crew should reflect this civilian scientific purpose.

Similarly, MV Doria’s role in fisheries patrol requires an understanding of fishing operations, gear types, and fisheries regulations that falls squarely within civilian maritime expertise.

While enforcement is part of its mandate, this can be effectively achieved through embarked fisheries officers and coast guard personnel working alongside a merchant marine crew.

The current military manning arrangement creates several practical challenges. For instances, military personnel rotate more frequently than civilian crews, thus, disrupting the continuity of operations and institutional knowledge crucial for research and patrol vessels.

This high turnover can compromise the efficiency of scientific missions and the effectiveness of fisheries monitoring operations.

Furthermore, military personnel operate under a different command structure and protocols that may not align with the civilian nature of KMFRI and State Department for Fisheries operations.

This can create unnecessary complications in mission planning and execution, potentially hampering research activities and fisheries management efforts.

Cost considerations also favour civilian crews. Military personnel deployed to these vessels represent resources diverted from their primary defense duties.

Meanwhile, Kenya has a pool of qualified merchant mariners who could operate these vessels more cost-effectively while contributing to civilian maritime sector employment.

The international norm supports this position. Research vessels and civilian patrol boats worldwide are predominantly crewed by merchant mariners, with examples from successful maritime nations showing the effectiveness of this approach.

The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution’s research fleet and Norway’s marine research vessels demonstrate how civilian crews excel in supporting scientific missions.

Critics might argue that military crews ensure better security and discipline. However, merchant mariners operate under strict international standards and regulations, with professional certification requirements that ensure high levels of competence and reliability. Their training specifically covers the operation of specialized vessels like RV Utafiti and MV Doria.

The solution is clear: KMFRI and the State Department for Fisheries should transition to civilian crews, employing qualified merchant mariners who can dedicate themselves to these vessels’ specific missions.

This transition would improve operational efficiency through specialized expertise, ensure better continuity in vessel operations, align with international best practices, create employment opportunities in Kenya’s maritime sector, and allow military personnel to focus on their core defense duties.

The time has come to recognize that civilian vessels deserve civilian crews. This change would not only optimize the operations of RV Utafiti and MV Doria but also strengthen Kenya’s civilian maritime capabilities.

Our research and fisheries management vessels should be crewed by professionals whose training and experience align with their civilian scientific and regulatory missions.

The government should act promptly to initiate this transition, ensuring these valuable national assets are operated by the most appropriate personnel for their intended purposes. The success of our marine research and fisheries management programs depends on it.

The author Andrew Mwangura is an Independent Maritime policy expert analyst with expertise in maritime economic development