KENYA

General

Kenya is located on the E coast of Africa. It is bounded on the N by Ethiopia and Sudan, on the S by Tanzania, and on the E by Somalia and the Indian Ocean.

Much of the land in the N and E parts is arid. From the coastal lowlands, the land rises through a wide arid plain to the highlands. Mount Kenya, 5,199m high, rises in the W part. Several plateaus, 910 to 3,000m high, stand between the mountain ranges and provide some of Africa's most fertile soil. The Great Rift Valley extends S from Lake Turkana and divides the central highlands from the W plateau, which gradually descends to Lake Victoria. The Tana, rising on the slopes of Mount Kenya, is the principal river. It is navigable by shallow-draft vessels for about 200 miles above the mouth.

The climate is tropical with wet and dry seasons. However, considerable variations in altitude form differing conditions between the hot, coastal lowlands and the cooler plateaus. Heavy rain falls during April and May, but a second wet season, in November and December, occurs in some places.

Buoyage System

The IALA Buoyage System (Region A) is in effect. See Chart No. 1 for further IALA Buoyage System information.

Currency

The official unit of currency is the Kenya shilling, consisting of 100 cents.

Government

Flag of Kenya

Kenya is a republic. The country is divided into seven provinces and one area.

The unicameral National Assembly consists of 210 directlyelected members serving 5-year terms, 12 members appointed by the President in proportion to the parliamentary vote, and two ex-officio members.

The legal system is based on Kenyan statutory law, Kenyan and English common law, tribal law, and Islamic law.

The capital is Nairobi.

Holidays

The following holidays are observed:

Eid-il-Fitr (End of Ramadan), an Islamic holiday subject to the appearance of the moon, is also celebrated.

Navigational Information

The maritime territorial claims of Kenya are, as follows:

* Established a straight baseline system. Claims Ungwana Bay as internal waters.

Search and Rescue

The ATS Division of the Kenyan Directorate of Civil Aviation is responsible of coordination of search and rescue operations. A Rescue Coordination Center (RCC) is located in Nairobi.

Time Zone

The Time Zone description is CHARLIE (-3). Daylight Savings Time is not observed.

Industries

Range land covers almost four-fifths of the country and produces mainly livestock products and also wild game, which comprises the major attraction of the country's tourist industry.

Other industries include agricultural processing, oil refining, small-scale consumer goods, cement, textiles, and mining. Coffee, tea, sisal, pyrethrum, coconuts, cashews, cotton, sugar, and maize are the principal crops.

Languages

English and Swahili are the official languages. There are many tribal languages.

U.S. Embassy

The U.S. Embassy is situated on United Nations Avenue, Gigiti, Nairobi.

The mailing addresses are, as follows: 1. Kenya address—

P.O. Box 606, Village Market 00621 Nairobi

2. U. S. address—

Box 21A, Unit 64100 APO AE 09831

U.S. Embassy Kenya Home Page http://nairobi.usembassy.gov

Cautions

Special Warning 121 (Issued 20 March 2003)

Information on Special Warning 121 can be found in Iraq— Cautions.

Special Warning 115 (Issued 5 March 2001)

Information on Special Warning 115 can be found in Iraq— Cautions.

Currency

The official unit of currency is the Kuwaiti dinar, consisting of 1,000 fils.

Buoyage System

Flag of Kuwait

The IALA Buoyage System (Region A) is in effect. See Chart No. 1 for further IALA Buoyage System information.

Kuwait is a nominal constitutional monarchy. The country is divided into five governorates.

Kuwait is governed by an Amir. The Prime Minister, who is named by the Amir, appoints the Council of Ministers, with the approval of the Amir. The unicameral National Assembly consists of 50 directly-elected members serving 4-year terms.

The legal system is based on a civil law system, with Islamic law significant in personal matters.

The capital is Kuwait (Al Kuwayt).

Regulations

General

The selling, giving, or taking out of the ship or transferring from one ship to another of alcohol is strictly prohibited by law. Alcoholic beverages are strictly prohibited to be held out of bond.

The import of firearms and ammunition is forbidden.

Holidays

The following holidays are observed:

Islamic holidays, which are subject to the appearance of the moon, include Al-Isra, Eid Al-Fitr (End of Ramadan), Waqfat Arafat, Eid Al-Adha (End of Pilgrimage), Hijrah (Islamic New Year), and the Prophet’s Birthday.

Industries

Crude oil production and refining are the major industries. Other industries include boat building, fishing, food processing, petrochemicals, and the manufacturing of construction materials.

Reporting

Due to the prevailing situation in the Persian Gulf area, the Ports Public Authority now exempt vessels, proceeding for Kuwait, from sending cables through Kuwait shore stations giving details of ETA. It is now requested that the vessel's agent at the port of departure, from which the vessel sailed for Kuwait, notify the Director, Marine Operations Department, Ports Public Authority, Kuwait (Telex: HM SHP 22740 KT), as soon as the vessel departs. Messages should contain the following information:

1.Date and time of sailing.

2.Length of vessel.

3.Arrival draft.

When entering Kuwaiti territorial waters, vessels must contact the Marine Operations Department, Ports Public Authority, in the usual manner.

Every merchant ship entering a port between sunrise and sunset shall fly, in addition to the required national and courtesy flags, the vessel’s signal letter flags.

Languages

Arabic is the official language. English is widely used.

Mined Areas

Vessels are advised that former mined areas exist off the coast of Kuwait in the N part of the Persian Gulf. Mines could still present a hazard in these areas; anchoring, fishing, or seabed operations are not recommended anywhere in this area. Additionally, drifting mines may be encountered anywhere.

Mine sightings should be reported to the naval authorities by INMARSAT (150 5612) or to Coalition naval vessels on VHF channel 13 or 16. Details of areas reported to be dangerous due to mines are promulgated by Navigation Notices issued by the Middle East Navigation Aids Service (MENAS) and MARAD advisories.

Navigational Information

The only maritime territorial claim of Kuwait is a territorial sea of 12 miles.

Pollution

Vessels shall not discharge into the water of the port any part of the content of their cargo, slop, ballast tanks or bilges which is liable to pollute the waters. Kuwait has stringent laws in force concerning the pollution of the sea by oil; persons responsible for pollution are liable to heavy fines.

Search and Rescue

The Maritime Affairs Department is responsible for coordinating search and rescue operations and can be reached by e- mail, as follows:

marine-dept@mockw.net

Time Zone

The Time Zone description is CHARLIE (-3). Daylight Savings Time is not observed.

U.S. Embassy

The U.S. Embassy is situated in Bayan, Area 14, Al-Masjed Al-Aqsa Street.

The mailing addresses are, as follows:

1.Kuwait address— P.O. Box 77 Safat 13001

2.U.S. address— Unit 6900

APO AE 09880-9000

U.S. Embassy Kuwait Home Page http://usembassy.state.gov/kuwait