In Lamu, Kenya, rising sea levels and rougher waters, attributed to climate change, are significantly impacting traditional boat building and maritime operations. Boat owners and builders are forced to redesign vessels with higher freeboards and wider bottoms to ensure safety, leading to increased costs and financial strain.

• A standard sea vessel that once cost Sh2 million to manufacture now incurs an additional Sh200,000 to Sh300,000 for climate-resilient modifications.
• Ahmed Hassan, a boat owner, reports that maintenance and repair frequency has increased three to four times, costing at least Sh50,000 per session.
• Abdallah Munawar, a prominent boat builder, emphasizes the need for climate-resilient designs, while Mohamed Athman from the Lamu Marine Forum highlights the increased hazards of warmer, turbulent waters on vessels.