Charting New Waters: BMA CEO Dr. Katana in South Korea to Strengthen Maritime Training Partnerships
When Bandari Maritime Academy (BMA) CEO Dr. Eric Katana boarded a flight to South Korea this week, it wasn’t just another official trip. It was a journey with a mission — to inspect a training vessel that promises to change the future of seafaring for Kenyan cadets.
The vessel, donated to the Academy, represents more than steel and machinery. For young men and women aspiring to careers at sea, it symbolizes opportunity, hands-on learning, and a bridge to the global maritime industry.
Dr. Katana isn’t traveling alone. By his side are Chief Engineer Titus Kilonzi, BMA’s Deputy Director of Maritime Education and Training, and a technical expert from the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA). Together, they embody Kenya’s growing determination to give its seafarers the same world-class training opportunities enjoyed by their counterparts abroad.
Their visit included a stop at the Korea Institute of Maritime and Fisheries Technology (KIMFT), a long-standing partner of BMA. Here, conversations revolved around strengthening an existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with a clear focus: more knowledge exchange, more advanced training, and greater capacity building. In simple terms, it’s about giving Kenyan cadets the skills and confidence to sail – literally and figuratively – into global opportunities.
This mission comes just days before another milestone. On 18th September 2025, four BMA cadets will embark on the prestigious Global On-Board Training (GOBT) Program. For months, they will live, learn, and work at sea, gaining the kind of experience that textbooks and classrooms cannot replicate.
For BMA, these moments mark progress. For Kenya, they signal ambition. And for the cadets, they are life-changing.
As Dr. Katana inspects the training vessel and deepens ties with Korea, one message rings clear: Bandari Maritime Academy is steering Kenya toward a future where its seafarers are not only well-trained, but also globally competitive players in the Blue Economy.
