By John Ndegwa / BMA
Bandari Maritime Academy (BMA) has initiated discussions on a strategic partnership with Somalia’s Kaalmays Marine Institute (KAALMI) following a courtesy visit by a KAALMI delegation to the Academy.
The delegation was hosted by BMA Chief Executive Officer Dr. Eric Katana, with talks focusing on potential areas of collaboration, particularly in capacity building for seafarers and fishermen in Somalia. Central to the discussions was the proposal to develop a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that would provide a structured framework for cooperation between the two maritime institutions.
Dr. Katana reaffirmed BMA’s commitment to advancing maritime education in the region, expressing readiness to support KAALMI as it embarks on strengthening its seafarer training programmes. He noted that regional collaboration in maritime training is critical to enhancing skills development, promoting safety at sea, and supporting the sustainable growth of the Blue Economy. He further expressed optimism about the prospective partnership and pledged BMA’s technical and institutional support going forward.
The KAALMI delegation was led by the Director of Maritime Education, Abdi Raghe, who thanked Dr. Katana and the BMA leadership for their openness and commitment. He observed that Somalia is increasingly prioritizing investment in maritime training, citing the country’s expansive coastline and largely untapped opportunities in fisheries, shipping, and marine services.
Also present at the meeting were BMA Senior Principal Trainer in Nautical Science, Maj. (Rtd) Frankline Toniok, alongside KAALMI officials Abdirahim Ahmed and Capt. Ali Abdille.
