The East Africa Community (EAC) is set to benefit from an ultra-modern maritime training facility as the region moves to tap into blue economy opportunities.
Domiciled at the Fisheries Training Institute (FTI) in Entebbe, Uganda, the facility, which is under construction at a cost of USD 1.45 million courtesy of the African Development Bank (AfDB), targets to train and build capacity for vessel operators in both navigable water bodies and the oceans.
The facility, the first of its kind in the region, comes with state-of-the-art facilities, including marine training, a swimming pool bridge simulator for marine navigation and engineering training, equipped laboratories, and a medical first aid facility.
Other amenities include a community jetty, a slipway with a capacity of 5-10 tonne vessels, and a boat maintenance workshop for repairing vessels.
This will assist in training marine officers, marine engineers, boat and ship operators, coxwain, fishermen, and able sea men from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, and the DRC to attain qualifications in marine education.
Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) Maritime Project Coordinator Ategeka Henry said the institute, which is set to be completed in December, marks a key milestone in improving safety in the maritime sector within the East Africa Community (EAC).
The institution, he said, has been built in accordance with the regulations set for the establishment of institutions under the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW).
‘This will be a great opportunity for members of the EAC states and even the diaspora to benefit from the training offered in this ultra-modern facility,’ he said.
LVBC Executive Secretary (ES), Dr. Masinde Bwire, said the programmes to be offered at the new facility will go a long way in improving maritime safety in the region.
‘This will provide our boat operators, seamen, and fishermen with much-needed skills that will go a long way towards improving maritime safety within Lake Victoria and our inland water bodies,’ he said.
The development comes amidst rising concerns over safety in Lake Victoria, where it is estimated that at least 5, 000 people die annually due to accidents.
Source: Kenya News Agency