Nairobi, 1 November 2025
The dynamics of marine cargo movement across Africa continue to reveal just how much can change between the port of loading and final delivery.
A recent survey involving a consignment shipped from Sokhna Port in Egypt to Mombasa — and later transported by road to Nairobi — brought this reality to life. The container sat at Dubai’s Jebel Ali Port for nearly a month awaiting a connecting vessel. For temperature-sensitive cargo, such a delay can mean the difference between a successful delivery and a total loss. What began as a logistics delay soon evolved into a chain of claims, liability reviews, and recovery actions spanning multiple jurisdictions.
Across the continent, incidents such as the Maersk Marie fire off Liberia (2025) have underscored the intricate interdependence between marine transit, cargo insurance, and claims management. Each disruption ripples through supply chains, testing the preparedness, coordination, and technical depth of those tasked with managing Africa’s expanding maritime trade.
Policy Shifts and Emerging Opportunities
In Kenya, the KRA–IRA directive requiring all import cargo to be insured locally represents a landmark shift — one that combines both opportunity and accountability. While marine and transit insurance currently account for only 2.2% of general insurance premiums (IRA, 2024), the African Union’s Blue Economy Report (2024) values Africa’s maritime sector at USD 25 billion, with projections to double by 2030.
This expanding market brings with it new demands for technical accuracy, professional integrity, and well-trained practitioners. The recently enacted Insurance Professionals Act, 2025 strengthens this momentum by anchoring certification, continuous professional development (CPD), and skills alignment with international standards.
To support this transition, the Specialty Claims Academy (SCA) has partnered with the Maritime Training Academy (MTA) — a UK-based institution offering globally recognized professional courses in marine and technical disciplines. Through this collaboration, SCA is extending a 5% discount on selected MTA short courses (Cargo Surveying & Managing Marine Insurance Claims) to professionals and organizations within its African network.
This partnership bridges the local training gap in marine insurance, cargo surveying, and claims management, empowering practitioners to build the specialized competence required to thrive in a rapidly evolving regulatory and commercial environment. Together, SCA and MTA are equipping the next generation of insurance and risk professionals with the tools to interpret policy shifts, strengthen compliance, and unlock the full potential of Africa’s maritime economy.
Building Technical Capacity in Marine Claims
At Specialty Claims Academy (SCA), we believe that technical excellence in loss adjusting, marine surveying, and claims handling is the cornerstone of a resilient insurance ecosystem. As regional trade continues to grow, so must the competence of professionals responsible for assessing, documenting, and managing loss exposures.
SCA works with insurers, logistics operators, and industry stakeholders to deliver specialist training programmes that enhance understanding of marine risk, claims investigation, and evidence-based reporting.
Organizations seeking to strengthen their marine and cargo claims expertise are welcome to reach out for tailored training or technical collaboration.
📧 training@specialtyclaims.co.ke
🌐 www.specialtyclaims.co.ke
Author:
Fredrick A. Oloo
BCom (Ins.), Dip CII, Dip CILA, BDMA Ins Tech
Lead Trainer & Director – Specialty Claims Academy (SCA)
( Also: Managing Director – Niche Loss Adjusters & Marine Surveyors Ltd
Council Member – Institute of Loss Adjusters & Risk Surveyors (IARS – Kenya)
Committee Member – Chartered Institute of Loss Adjusters (CILA – UK)’s Future Focus Special Interest Group
