KMA orders removal of abandoned vessels in Malindi

The Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) has directed the removal of two(2) abandoned marine motor vessels from the Indian Ocean off Malindi, Kilifi County, citing safety and environmental concerns.

In a Gazette Notice issued on Friday, October 25, 2024, KMA Director-General Julius Koech announced that the vessels, previously known as AHADI 001 and AHADI 002, posed a serious hazard to navigation and were threatening the marine environment.

“A declaration is issued under Section 323 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 2009, that the two vessels, abandoned at Malindi, Kilifi County, are an obstruction to navigation and a danger to the marine environment,” the notice states. 

The vessels were allegedly left at Malindi Jetty by foreign owners in 2020 and have since become a problem for the local community, endangering both human and marine life due to their disrepair.

KMA has now taken legal possession of the vessels and will remove them in line with Kenyan maritime laws. Under the Merchant Shipping Act, 2009, the authority has the power to remove any abandoned vessel from the country's waters.

"The Director-General has taken possession of the vessels and will remove them according to Section 322 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 2009, and other applicable laws," said Koech in a statement.

Kenya’s maritime laws stipulate that the owner of a vessel in violation of these regulations could face penalties, including fines.

The Kenya Maritime Authority is responsible for regulating and overseeing maritime activities in Kenya. Established under the Kenya Maritime Act, 2006, the authority plays a key role in managing the country’s shipping and maritime safety.

Maritime law, which governs shipping and offenses on the open sea, is regulated both nationally and through international conventions, such as the Law of the Sea, which outlines global rules for the use of oceans and seas.