Overview

The Mombasa MRCC provides a communication center where seafarers can call in for help in cases of distress while at sea, in a large area covering Tanzania, Seychelles and Somalia. The centre has an efficient and effective communication system that enables it receive distress messages from any vessel within our Search and Rescue Region. The Centre is always on a 24 hour watch to ensure prompt receipt and dissemination of distress messages from ships plying the Search and Rescue region.

The RMRCC is now officially operating as a Piracy Information Sharing Centre (ISC) under the Djibouti Code of Conduct to which Kenya is a signatory. The Code aims at repression and deterrence of Piracy and Armed Robbery against ships in waters of the West Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden. The centre which is operated by Kenya Maritime Authority became the first of three information sharing centres to be commissioned by the IMO Secretary General, Mr. Efthimios E. Mitropoulos on 31st March, 2011. As a designated focal point and piracy information exchange centre, the RMRCC together with the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres of Tanzania and Yemen facilitate practical measures for the suppression of piracy and armed robbery against ships by ensuring coordinated, timely and effective flow of information. The centres also receive and respond to piracy alerts and requests for information or assistance at all times.

Since its establishment, the Government of Kenya, through the Kenya Maritime Authority has continued to develop SAR operations-supporting infrastructure through acquisition of modern satellite and global communication systems that support the current and future plans of the rescue centre.

The aim of the RMRCC’s 24 hour basis operations is to: Receive, acknowledge and relay notification of distress from vessels on a 24hour basis; establish and implement the National Maritime Search and Rescue Plan; coordinate the activities of KPA, Kenya Navy and other organisations when engaged in search and rescue operations both at the coast and inland waters; Enforce the Search & Rescue(SAR) plan for the national and regional area of responsibility; Request assistance from other Maritime Rescue Coordination Centers (MRCC’s) as appropriate; Keep case files for every SAR incident; Maintain inventories of Search and Rescue (SAR) facilities held by public, military and private agencies that are accessible to conduct search and rescue when need arises. Disseminate and share piracy information with relevant authorities; Protect the marine environment by monitoring oil spills. In addition coordinate and manage the National Marine Oil Spill Response Contingency Plan for both coastal and..