Training for Dignity at Sea: Why Bandari Maritime Academy’s ToT Initiative Matters

By Andrew Mwangura

Email,thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com

Bandari Maritime Academy’s decision to launch a training of trainers (ToT) programme on the prevention of violence and harassment in the maritime sector marks a quiet but consequential turning point in how seafaring professionalism is understood in Kenya and beyond.

Under the leadership of chief executive officer Dr. Eric Katana, the academy has moved decisively to align maritime education not only with technical competence but with the human realities of life and work at sea, where isolation, hierarchy, and multicultural crews can either produce solidarity or expose vulnerability.

The timing of the initiative is no coincidence.

The International Maritime Organization’s directive that, from 1 January 2026, all seafarers’ basic safety training under STCW Code A-VI/1-4 must include modules on preventing violence and harassment reflects a global acknowledgement that safety at sea is incomplete without personal dignity.

For decades, the maritime industry has been meticulous about fire-fighting drills, survival techniques, and emergency response, yet comparatively silent about the interpersonal risks that undermine morale, mental health, and operational efficiency.

By acting early, BMA signals that compliance is not a box-ticking exercise but an opportunity to shape a new professional culture.

What distinguishes this programme is its focus on trainers rather than trainees alone. By equipping instructors with the right knowledge, language, and pedagogical tools, the Academy recognises that values are transmitted as much by example as by curriculum.

Senior principal nautical trainer Maj. (Rtd) Frankline Toniok’s role in guiding staff through the new content underscores a practical truth: instructors must be confident and competent to discuss difficult issues if they are to prepare cadets and seafarers for real-world situations.

Training that addresses violence and harassment cannot be delivered mechanically; it requires sensitivity, clarity, and credibility.

The IMO directive, to be implemented through national flag states via updates to the STCW Convention and the International Safety Management Code, places new obligations on maritime training institutions and shipping companies alike.

Compliance will soon be mandatory, but meaningful compliance depends on how seriously institutions internalise the spirit of the regulation.

BMA’s approach suggests an understanding that prevention is not merely about rules and reporting mechanisms, but about awareness, early intervention, and the cultivation of respectful working environments. In this sense, the ToT programme is as much about leadership as it is about instruction.

Dr. Katana’s emphasis on ethics, dignity, and workplace safety reflects an evolving definition of maritime professionalism. A technically skilled seafarer who lacks respect for colleagues, or who is ill-equipped to respond to harassment, represents a risk not only to individuals but to shipboard operations.

Violence and harassment erode trust, compromise teamwork, and can escalate into safety incidents with far-reaching consequences. Addressing these issues at the training stage is therefore both a moral and an operational imperative.

There is also a broader national and regional significance to this initiative. As Kenya positions itself as a maritime training and logistics hub in the Western Indian Ocean, the standards set by institutions like BMA will shape the reputation of Kenyan seafarers globally.

Shipping companies increasingly scrutinise not just certificates but the culture embedded in training institutions.

A graduate who understands professional boundaries, reporting channels, and mutual respect is better prepared for multinational crews and compliant ship management systems.

In this context, BMA’s programme enhances the competitiveness of its graduates in the global labour market.

Importantly, the focus on prevention reframes the conversation away from reaction and punishment alone.

By embedding awareness and response mechanisms into basic safety training, the Academy acknowledges that violence and harassment thrive in silence and ignorance. Education becomes the first line of defence.

Trainers who are confident in the subject can normalise discussions around conduct and responsibility, making it easier for future seafarers to recognise unacceptable behaviour and to act appropriately when it arises.

Critically, this initiative should not be seen as an endpoint. Regulations evolve, and so must training methodologies. Continuous review, feedback from seafarers, and collaboration with regulators and industry stakeholders will be essential to keep the curriculum relevant and effective. Yet as a starting point, the ToT programme sends a clear message: safety at sea is inseparable from human dignity.

In launching this programme ahead of the 2026 deadline, BMA demonstrates institutional foresight and moral clarity. It affirms that the maritime profession, long defined by resilience and discipline, must also be defined by respect and accountability.

If sustained and replicated, this approach has the potential to reshape shipboard culture, ensuring that the next generation of seafarers is not only skilled in surviving the sea, but committed to safeguarding one another while doing so.

Mr. Mwangura , an independent maritime consultant is former SUK Secretary