NAORIBI: Officials from Kenya Ports Authorities (KPA) and Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) are training members of the public and private sectors on different issues regarding how to improve safety at the Mombasa Port.
The three-day sensitization, capacity building workshop on the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) has been kicked-off in Kigali. It is aimed at training Rwandan exporters, importers and policy makers on how best they can abide by the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea which will come in force on the first of July this year.
Alfred Jaka, a Senior Operations Officer at KPA has revealed that one of the objectives of the workshop is to give an insight to Rwandan exporters and importers about how the port operates and how they can avoid unnecessary penalties which can occur to them while exporting or importing their goods through the Mombasa port.
“Rwandans are of the members of the East African Community who use the port of Mombasa to export and import goods and services. It is in this regard that we organize this workshop on SOLAS because it will enable participants to have a clear view of what this convention. It will also show them how they can abide by its rules and regulations,” Alfred Jaka said.
Lambert Muhire, from China Roads construction company who was among the participants noted that the workshop is important since it equips them with mechanisms and strategies on how best they can use the Mombasa port effectively and effectively.
“Most Rwandan exporters and importers have been having insufficient information on how they can abide by the international convention of for safety of life at sea (SOLAS). That itself could lead them into troubles at Mombasa port and that’s why we are grateful to KPA for organizing this workshop. We are sure from now onwards they know how to avoid committing mistakes on the use of sea ports,” Muhire said.
Emmanuel Butera, the director of waterway and air transport unit at Rwanda Utility and Regulatory Authority (RURA) said that they will use the information obtained from the workshop to sensitize and mobilize Rwandan traders especially exporters and importers on how they can use the Mombasa port without violating the SOLAS international convention. The workshop is being attended by exporters, importers, transporters, clearing and forwarding agents and shipping lines agents
