Kenya is receiving great attention from the shipping industry by forming a large-scale delegation to Korea to propose ways to supply seafarers to Korea, which is facing an acute shortage of seafarers.

The shipping industry expects that Kenya, an English-speaking country, will become the third most promising source of seafarers after India and the Philippines once it undergoes certain training. 

According to the Kenyan Embassy in Korea and the shipping industry, the delegation was led by Geoffrey Eyanae Kaituko, Deputy Minister of the Mining, Maritime, and Blue Economy Ministry, and included four members of the National Assembly, officials from the President’s Office, and the President of Bandari Maritime Academy. The 15-member delegation arrived in Korea yesterday, 10th.

They will visit the Korea Shipping Association on the 11th and discuss seafarer supply and demand plans with Chairman Jeong Tae-soon of the Shipping Association, and then attend a welcome dinner hosted by the Korea-Korea Seafarers Cooperation Association (Chairman Kim In-hak) in the evening.

On the 12th, we plan to discuss the licensing agreement between the two countries with Vice Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Song Myeong-dal in Sejong City.

Also, on the 13th, they will visit the Korea Maritime and Fisheries Training Institute in Yeongdo, Busan and sign an MOU regarding on-board training, followed by a visit to Korea Maritime and Ocean University.

According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), there are currently 5,000 seafarers aboard Kenyan flagged ships and 6,000 on foreign ships, for a total of 11,000 seafarers.