The International Maritime Organization popularly referred to IMO intends to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through improvements in energy efficiency and increased uptake of low-carbon technologies in the Maritime Shipping Industry. However, for most Developing Countries and, in particular, Least Developed Countries and Small Islands Developing States they require some assistance by way of capacity building and technology transfer to implement newly ratified IMO Resolutions.
With financial assistance from the European Union, IMO has set up Maritime Technology Cooperation Centres – MTCCs, in Latin America, the Caribbean, Pacific, Asia and Africa. These five MTCCs constitute the Global MTCC Network-GMN), which is implementing this IMO project titled “Capacity Building for Climate Change Mitigation in the Maritime Shipping Industry”.
For the Africa Region, the Maritime Technology Cooperation Centre – MTCC is located in Mombasa, Kenya, where the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology-JKUAT is the host institution, in partnership with the Kenya Ports Authority-KPA and the Kenya Maritime Authority – KMA.
The MTCC-Africa will for the next three years and beyond be the focal point for: Improving compliance with international regulations on energy efficiency for ships sailing in the Region, promoting the uptake of low-carbon technologies and operations in the maritime sector and demonstrating a pilot-scale system for collecting data and reporting on ships’ fuel consumption to improve ship owners’ and maritime administrations’ understanding in this regard.
The first Africa-wide Regional capacity building Workshop was held between 13th and 15th December, 2017 at the Sarova Whitesands Hotel in Mombasa, Kenya. Almost 25 delegates from all over Africa representing their maritime industry, governments, climate change focused agencies, and institutions of higher learning were in attendance. The technical Resource Persons came from the European Union and the IMO.
Under the workshop theme “MTCC Africa, MARPOL Annex VI and Debate on African Ports”, participants were sensitized on the impact of maritime shipping on air quality within ports, effects on climate change, the need for energy efficiency onboard ships and global mitigation measures. In addition, participants were briefed on international laws governing marine pollution (MARPOL), the time frame within which States are expected to implement various strategies and the support desired by MTCC-Africa during the implementation of pilot projects.
The following graced the workshop:
Managing Director, Kenya Ports Authority, Catherine Mturi-Wairi, Director General, Kenya Maritime Authority, Cosmas Cherop, Director General, National Environment Management Authority, Prof. Geoffrey Wahungu, Vice Chancellor, JKUAT, Prof. Mabel Imbuga, Principal Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Monica Juma, Principal Secretary, State, Department of Maritime and Shipping Affairs, Mrs. Nancy W. Karigithu, Principal Secretary, State Department of Transport Services, Prof. Paul M. Maringa Director of the Marine Environment Division, International Maritime Organization , Dr. Stefan Micallef,Deputy Head of the European Union Delegation to Kenya, Mr. Bruno Pozzi, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development, Mr. James Macharia.
