The Kenya Maritime Authority has licensed 50 boat pilots (coxswains) at the Kisumu Maritime Centre in the last year as part of a move to boost skilled manpower as the country embarks on reviving transport in Lake Victoria.
The 50 coxswains capable of handling boats and ferries of up to 24 meters long are expected to drive the revival of smaller piers across the lake as the Kenya Ports Authority moves to upgrade the Kisumu lake port with larger vessels.
They are also expected to form part of shipping crew in renewed transport across the lake to Uganda’s Port Belle and Mwanza in Tanzania.
KMA’s Regional Rescue Co-ordination Centre manager David Muli who has been examining the 50 who graduated in three different lots in September 2015 and January and April this year expressed confidence that they would help in improving transport of cargo and people over the inland waters, easing pressure on the roads.
“Certified coxswains can pilot small motorized boats and ferries with cargo or passengers. Over Lake Victoria, for instance, they can competently ply East African cross-border routes,” he said.
The college, situated at the Korando peninsular, some 15 kilometers from Kisumu town, is one the institutions that KMA is banking on to create a pool of manpower to raise interest in maritime jobs.
KMA is also looking to enter partnerships with colleges and universities to improve maritime training as part of strategic plans by the East African countries to increase efficiency of trade amongst them.
Mr Muli said the development of such maritime schools would help in the creation of a pool of marine professionals “with competent abilities to ply global waters, thus improving the shipping industry.”