Kenya

The major oil companies (Shell, BP, Mobil, Kenol/Kobil, Caltex, Agip and Total) formed OSMAG (Oil Spill Mutual Aid Group) in 1996 with the aim of creating a joint capability among all the oil companies using the Mombasa port to respond effectively to oil spills.

Contact may also be made directly to the Marine Operations Manager, KPA Port of Mombasa. T: +254 (11) 311409 or +254 (11) 471590 (after hours). F: +254 (11) 311867.

The Oil Spills Response Administrator, c/o Esso Kenya Limited Mombasa. T: +254 (11) 495762 or +254 (11) 432184 (after hours). F: +254 (11) 494515.

You should drink or use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks. Don’t eat food prepared by unlicensed vendors.

If you need emergency medical assistance during your stay, dial 999 and ask for an ambulance. You should contact your insurance/medical assistance company promptly if you are referred to a medical facility for treatment.

The proximity of attacks has spread and taken place off Kenya, Tanzania, Seychelles and Madagascar. Pirates are believed to be using mother vessels to launch attacks at very far distances from the coast, with some attacks taking place up to 600 n.m. from the coast. Two attacks occurred beyond the recommended Long. 060° E. Pirates have been known to operate in/near to positions 00° 43.70′ S, 061° 57.80′ E and 00° 29.00′ N, 063° 12.00′ E, approx. 1,000–1,100 n.m. east of Mogadishu.

Vessels are advised to keep more than 600 n.m. from the coastline and when routeing north/south, keeping east of Long. 60° 00′ E until east of the Seychelles.

In view of the recent attacks, all vessels are advised, when proceeding to/from South Africa, Tanzania, Kenya and Somalia to consider routeing south of Lat. 10° 00′ S and east of Long. 060° 00′ E, avoiding the area between the Somali coast and north and west of the Seychelles. A 24-hour visual and radar watch must be maintained as early sightings/detection and accurate assessment will allow Masters to take evasive action and increase speed, and at the same time request for assistance and escape.

Due to the unprecedented number of Somali pirate incidents, the IMB calls for all Masters transiting the Gulf of Aden, southern Red Sea, off Oman, east coast of Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Seychelles and Madagascar to report all sightings of suspected pirate mother ships to the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre. This vital intelligence will then be used to identify and target the mother ships. This will enable appropriate action to be taken in response.

Within the VRA there is a high-risk area (HRA) as follows:

The IRTC includes the creation of eastbound and westbound transit lanes. Each lane has width 5.0 n.m. with a 2.0 n.m. buffer zone separating eastbound and westbound lanes. The IRTC has the following coordinates:

Group transits have been designed to put ships into different speed groups in order to exploit the additional protection and assurance of being in a group. The times for different groups to enter the IRTC are calculated that they pass through the area of statistically greatest danger, between long. 47° E and 49° E, at night and ensures that all ships, regardless of speed, are together at first light. This allows the military forces in the area to best position their assets in the area to protect ships against piracy and give assistance in case of attack.

Timing of transit groups as follows:

Masters of vessels using the IRTC, and those following group transits, are not relieved of their obligation and should continue to maintain a strict 24-hour lookout using all available means to get early warnings of an approaching threat.

Masters are also advised to maintain a listening watch on VHF Channels 16, 8 and 72. Warships make advisory calls, ``Securite'' broadcasts, to announce their location and in turn will also listen for merchant ships calling them.

Vessels are encouraged to report their positions by email or the UKMTO website eForms at 0800 UTC whilst operating in the UKMTO VRA. Reporting can also be done through MSCIO (see below).

The Voluntary Reporting Scheme (VRS) form can be obtained from Admiralty Chart Q6099 and in the annex of BMP5 (Best Management Practices to Deter Piracy and Enhance Maritime Security in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea).

The merchant VRS is established to increase security and provide anti-piracy support to maintain the freedom of navigation to all vessels in the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. Merchant vessels operating in these areas are strongly encouraged to report and liaise with UKMTO (and/or MSCIO) whilst transiting the VRA. Any vessel, owner, operator or manager choosing not to report may delay any military assistance in the event of an incident as military assets may not be expecting the ship and valuable information may not be available.

The scheme is free to participate in, and vessels of any flag or ownership are invited to participate. All information is treated in strict commercial confidence and only used within military circles.

Submitted BMP Reporting Forms will be shared with the Maritime Security Centre Indian Ocean (MSCIO). Sharing this information encourages integration between maritime centres to combat piracy and other illicit activities at sea.

General T: +44 (2392) 222065. [email protected]

United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) - Dubai: T: +971 50 189 8389.

Alternatively, the forms can be downloaded, filled in, and sent to [email protected] or F: +44 (1923) 956575.

When an official holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday will be an official holiday.

If you plan to charter a private aircraft, check with the company’s Safety Pilot about the condition of the aircraft and runways to be used. If the company has no Safety Pilot, find another company that does.

There have been a number of serious accidents involving long-distance buses. Vehicles are often poorly maintained and driven at excessive speed. Check the bus operator’s safety standards.

Though very cheap to use, matatus (minibuses) are notorious for being poorly maintained, badly driven and uninsured. There are frequent reports of matatus being hijacked and passengers being robbed.

You should be vigilant at all times and follow any security advice given by your employer or your hosts. If you’re attacked, don’t resist. Avoid walking around after dark, especially in isolated areas like empty beaches. Avoid carrying large amounts of cash and don’t wear expensive watches, jewellery or items of sentimental value. You must carry a form of ID with you at all times. A copy of your passport is normally acceptable, but recently some police officers have been insisting on the original document.

Beware of thieves posing as police officers or private Security Guards. Always ask to see identification. Don’t accept food or drink from strangers as it may be drugged. The coastal areas are predominantly Muslim. Although there are no strict dress codes, you should dress conservatively away from the tourist resorts and hotels, especially in Mombasa town, during the holy month of Ramadan or if you intend to visit religious areas.

Smoking in all public places (except designated areas) is prohibited throughout Kenya. This applies to areas like hotel grounds, lounge areas and entrances. Smoking outdoors in any public street or on the beach is not banned, but check first and if in doubt don’t light up. Offenders can be fined up to 3 million Kenya shillings or imprisoned for up to 3 years.

The use and trafficking of illegal Class A drugs in Kenya carries heavy fines and jail sentences. The penalty for possession is 10 years in prison.

Taking photographs of official buildings, including Embassies, can lead to detention. If in any doubt, don’t photograph or film around them. Photography is also prohibited at airports.

You must get permission to carry any kind of firearm before you enter the country.

It is illegal to destroy Kenyan currency.

Homosexual activity is illegal. Public displays of homosexuality like holding hands or kissing in public places could lead to arrest and imprisonment.

You must carry a form of ID with you at all times. A copy of your passport is normally acceptable, but recently some police officers have been insisting on the original document.

It is illegal to buy, sell, kill or capture any protected wild animal or trade any of its parts without a licence. Kenya is a signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) under which there’s a ban on the international commercial trade in ivory. Those caught purchasing or trafficking banned goods will be prosecuted and receive prison sentences and/or fines.