Concern as marine pilots’ shortage hit Mombasa port

Marine pilots are specialised maritime professionals who safely guide ships into and out of harbours. PHOTO/FILE

By Andrew Mwangura

newshub@eyewitness.africa

The Port of Mombasa, Kenya’s premier maritime gateway and East Africa’s largest and busiest seaport, is currently facing a severe shortage of marine pilots.

This deficit threatens to undermine the port’s operational efficiency and its pivotal role in regional commerce.  Marine pilots are specialised maritime professionals who safely guide ships into and out of harbour limits, as well as during berthing and unberthing operations.

Their expertise in local waterways, currents, and port infrastructure is irreplaceable and vital for preventing accidents, protecting the marine environment, and maintaining efficient port operations.

The current shortage at Mombasa raises serious concerns about the port’s ability to handle its growing volume of traffic.  The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) has been struggling to recruit and retain qualified marine pilots for several years.

This challenge stems from multiple factors, including an ageing workforce, inadequate training pipelines, and competitive recruitment from higher-paying ports in the Middle East and Asia. Many experienced pilots have retired or relocated, creating a knowledge gap that cannot be quickly filled.

A significant contributing factor to this shortage is that many trainees have not attained the minimum required qualification—the Chief Officer Certificate of Competency (CoC) class 2 unlimited—which is necessary for entry into the profession.

This certification gap has created a bottleneck in the pilot training pipeline, preventing otherwise promising candidates from advancing. The consequences of this shortage are already evident.

Vessels are now facing longer waiting times for pilot services, increasing demurrage costs for shipping companies. These delays ripple through supply chains, affecting businesses throughout East Africa that rely on timely imports and exports. The port’s reputation for efficiency, a key factor in attracting shipping lines, is at risk. 

Marine pilots shortage threatens to undermine the port’s operational efficiency. PHOTO/FILE

The situation has become so critical that administrative personnel are being called upon to fill operational gaps. Senior officials, including the Chief Pilot, Marine Operations Manager, and even the Managing Director, have been forced to assist with pilotage duties—a clear indication of the severity of the shortage and its impact on normal operations.

This situation calls for immediate intervention at both policy and operational levels. The KPA should implement a comprehensive strategy that includes enhanced compensation packages to retain existing pilots, accelerated training programmes for new recruits, and potentially the temporary recruitment of foreign pilots to bridge the immediate gap.

Long-term solutions must focus on developing a sustainable pipeline of marine pilot talent. This includes partnering with maritime academies to create specialised training programmes and offering apprenticeships that provide hands-on experience under the guidance of veteran pilots before they retire.

The Kenyan government should also recognise this as a matter of national economic security. The Port of Mombasa handles over 90% of Kenya’s international trade and serves as a gateway for landlocked neighbours, including Uganda, Rwanda, and South Sudan. Any prolonged disruption to its operations would have severe regional economic repercussions. 

As global shipping evolves with larger vessels and tighter schedules, the role of skilled marine pilots becomes even more critical. Addressing this shortage isn’t merely about solving a staffing issue—it’s about securing East Africa’s maritime future.