MOMBASA, Kenya – Maritime industry experts are urging the Kenyan government to convert two recently retired Kenya Navy vessels, KNS Galana and KNS Tana, into dedicated training ships for merchant marine cadets. The proposal addresses a chronic shortage of practical, at-sea training opportunities that has long hindered the employment prospects of Kenyan seafarers on the international stage.

The two vessels were officially decommissioned in a formal ceremony presided over by Kenya Navy Commander, Major General Paul Otieno, at the Mkunguni Jetty in Mombasa on Tuesday, 16 September 2025. After three decades of service, the logistics ships, which played notable roles in military operations such as 'Sledge Hammer' in Somalia and numerous humanitarian missions, were retired as part of the navy's fleet modernization efforts.

Proponents, including veteran maritime analyst and former head of the Seafarers Union of Kenya, Andrew Mwangura, argue that repurposing these assets offers a strategic and cost-effective solution to a critical national problem. "Kenya's maritime ambitions are constrained by a critical shortage of skilled seafarers," Mwangura stated, highlighting that the lack of mandatory hands-on training infrastructure has denied many Kenyans jobs with international shipping lines.

A Critical Gap in Maritime Training

For Kenyan cadets, graduating from institutions like the Bandari Maritime Academy (BMA), the Technical University of Mombasa (TUM), or Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) is only the first step. To receive internationally recognized certification under the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) convention, they must complete a minimum of 12 months of practical sea-time. This requirement has proven to be a significant bottleneck.

Currently, cadets rely on limited, highly competitive placements on commercial vessels, with some families spending upwards of KSh 5 million to secure training berths abroad in countries like Egypt or the Philippines. This high cost effectively locks out many aspiring mariners. The Bandari Maritime Academy, Kenya's premier training institution, has agreements with lines like CMA-CGM and Maersk, but the available slots are insufficient to meet the demand from the thousands of students enrolled annually.

This training gap exists amid a global shortage of qualified officers. The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) projects a worldwide shortfall of nearly 89,000 officers by 2026, presenting a significant opportunity for Kenya if it can bridge its training deficit.

The Proposed Solution: A Cost-Effective Conversion

Acquiring a new, purpose-built training vessel is prohibitively expensive, with estimates reaching as high as KSh 49 billion ($380 million USD). In contrast, experts estimate that refurbishing the KNS Tana and KNS Galana would cost between KSh 500–800 million. This conversion could be undertaken locally by Kenya Shipyards Limited (KSL), which has a proven track record, including the successful overhaul of the naval patrol vessel KNS Shupavu.

The retired ships, originally designed as medium landing ships, are over 50 meters long and displace around 1,000 tonnes. Their robust construction and existing layouts with cargo holds and medical bays make them suitable candidates for conversion into training platforms. During their naval service, Commander Major General Otieno noted they were "cradles of learning where young cadets grew into seasoned sailors," a role experts believe they can continue in a civilian capacity.

"Refurbishing Tana and Galana represents a strategic, sustainable, and cost-effective solution," Mwangura argued, emphasizing the potential to align the project with Kenya's Vision 2030 goals for the Blue Economy.

Bolstering Kenya's Blue Economy

The proposal directly supports the government's stated ambition to develop the Blue Economy, which currently contributes about 2.5% to GDP but has the potential to generate nearly KSh 500 billion annually. A steady pipeline of well-trained and certified seafarers is essential to achieving this goal, creating jobs and increasing foreign exchange remittances.

The government, through the Principal Secretary for Shipping and Maritime Affairs, Aden Millah, has committed to removing barriers limiting Kenyans from securing maritime jobs abroad and is finalizing agreements with foreign governments and crewing agencies to unlock more opportunities. A dedicated training vessel would significantly enhance the competitiveness of Kenyan seafarers in the global market.

Beyond cadet training, the repurposed vessels could also serve as floating research platforms for oceanography and marine ecology, furthering Kenya's contribution to sustainable marine management under UN Sustainable Development Goal 14. While the government has not issued a formal response to the proposal, the decommissioning of the vessels presents a timely opportunity for policymakers at the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs to consider their future role in national development. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REQUIRED.