East Africa’s Maritime Rescue Coordination Center sails on Lake Victoria shores of Mwanza

The construction works for the Regional Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre which was being built at the Ilemela District of Mwanza, in the Tanzania’s Lake Zone has been completed.

In connection with that the East African Community’s Sectoral Council on Transport, Communications and Meteorology meeting in Arusha has urged Tanzania and Uganda to expedite the full operationalization of the East African Community’s Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), which is to serve Lake Victoria

The completion of the MRCC, according to the Ministers, marks a major milestone in the regional effort to enhance maritime safety and safeguard lives and livelihoods on Lake Victoria.

Regarding the regional maritime sector, the Sectoral Council considered initiatives to improve inland waterways transport, including the Safety and Accessibility on Lake Victoria (SAIL) Program.

The East African Community’s Sectoral Council on Transport, Communications and Meteorology has also addressed measures to strengthen the Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation in the region.

Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation (AIG) is undertaken with the aim of enhancing aviation safety and improving the effectiveness of aircraft accident and incident investigations.

On matters of civil aviation, the Ministers assessed progress towards the liberalization of the regional air transport market and urged Partner States that are yet to join the initiative to do so. 

The initiative is expected to improve the movement of passengers and cargo, lower the cost of air travel, stimulate tourism and trade, attract investment and strengthen regional economic integration.

In the roads sub-sector, the Sectoral Council noted the significant progress made in the development of more than 15,000 kilometres of multinational road corridors across the region.

The Council directed the Secretariat to undertake a study on the Harmonization of Road User Charges under the Tripartite Framework of COMESA, EAC and SADC, with the aim of promoting a more efficient, predictable, and integrated regional road transport system.

Under the railway sub-sector, the Sectoral Council directed the Secretariat to expedite the finalization of the EAC Railways Interoperability Bill, aimed at establishing a harmonized legal and regulatory framework to improve cross-border rail transport, enhance interoperability among national railway systems, and strengthen regional connectivity.

Further, the Sectoral Council reviewed progress in the communications sector and noted the progress towards the development of the draft EAC Regional Mobile Roaming Regulations.

The Regulations seek to reduce the cost of cross-border mobile communications, improve the quality and accessibility of roaming services, enhance consumer protection and promote seamless regional connectivity.

 Once adopted, they are expected to facilitate greater mobility of people and businesses, support regional trade and integration, and advance the development of a more connected Single Digital Market in the EAC.

The 20th Meeting of the EAC Sectoral Council on TCM held in Arusha, considered progress and made decisions and directives on EAC development initiatives across the roads, railways, maritime transport, telecommunications, civil aviation, airports, and meteorology sectors.

It also received updates on projects and programmes being implemented by the Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) and the Civil Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Agency (CASSOA).