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Africa’s maritime moment: why the continent can’t wait to lead

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Sam Megwa, Consultant, Lloyd's Register Foundation

Sam advises on Africa's maritime investment strategy. He builds connections across Africa and regional programmes aligned to ocean infrastructure, seafarer development, and blue economy resilience.

Africa stands at a maritime crossroads, where shifting trade routes and climate pressures make its blue economy pivotal, argues Sam Megwa.

Overview

Africa stands at a maritime crossroads. As global shipping routes shift and climate pressures mount, our ports, coastlines, and blue economy ambitions are no longer peripheral, they are pivotal. This is not a distant opportunity. It is a present imperative.

Over 90% of Africa’s trade moves by sea, yet we own less than 1% of the global fleet. That imbalance is more than economic; it is strategic. It highlights both a challenge and an opportunity. With the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) reshaping regional commerce, and the Revised Maritime Transport Charter entering into force in 2025, we have a rare window to embed maritime policy, investment, and innovation into Africa’s development agenda. But seizing this moment demands bold leadership, integrated planning, and a renewed commitment to maritime sovereignty through partnerships that deliver win-win outcomes. At the recent Africa Maritime Day in Antwerp, we saw the ambition clearly, from the skills of African seafarers to the growing momentum behind port infrastructure and the importance of strong partnerships between Africa and Europe. But ambition alone is not enough.

From missed opportunity to maritime leadership

Africa’s youth, trade ambitions, and AfCFTA goals require a maritime sector that delivers. Shipping is not just a connector; it is a catalyst for industrialisation,  regional integration, and sustainable livelihoods. Yet the mismatch between trade volume and fleet ownership leaves us exposed and without significant investment in African-owned vessels,  port infrastructure, and human capital, we risk remaining passengers in our own economic journey.

Global disruptions - from Red Sea insecurity to Panama Canal drought restrictions - are redrawing the map of maritime trade and African ports are gaining strategic relevance as alternative transshipment and energy routes. Our renewable energy potential positions us as a future green maritime hub. Foreign direct investment is surging, and megaprojects are gaining traction. The question is not whether Africa will be involved; it is whether we will lead.

We are not short of frameworks: AU Agenda 2063, AfCFTA, AIMS 2050, and the Africa Blue Economy Strategy all point toward a more connected, resilient maritime future. The Revised Maritime Transport Charter adds further weight. But implementation remains slow and uneven. Some countries have adopted detailed national blue economy strategies. Others are still at the concept stage - vision must be matched by velocity.

Africa’s maritime institutions, from the AU’s maritime unit to regional bodies like AAMA, MOWCA, and MOESNA, are under-resourced. Incomplete fleet and port data hampers planning and investment, fragmented governance and slow policy uptake compound the challenge. Coordination is no longer optional or a nice-to-have; it’s essential. Africa’s ageing fleet, shallow ports, and high logistics costs are well known and now climate threats - sea level rise, coastal erosion, extreme weather - add a new urgency. Resilience must be built into every port, vessel, and policy. Digitalisation - from Port Community Systems, to customs automation and electronic cargo tracking - is underway in key countries, but scale, consistency, and interoperability are still missing.

Africa’s young workforce is also a global asset. The Lloyd’s Register Foundation-funded Deep Dive on Seafarer Sustainability by the World Maritime University confirmed that with the right support, we could become a leading supplier of maritime labour if maritime education and training, sea time (onboard training), certification, and employability frameworks are reformed.

Africa’s maritime sector is not just a logistics challenge - it is a development opportunity, a climate imperative, and a test of continental coordination.

To deliver, Africa must:

  1. Adopt and implement national maritime and blue economy strategies across all coastal and island states.
  2. Invest in green corridors and resilient ports, linking maritime infrastructure to AfCFTA and global markets.
  3. Empower African shipowners and shipyards through blended finance and PPPs.
  4. Reform maritime education and certification to unlock the youth potential.
  5. Coordinate at the continental level, ensuring Africa speaks with one voice in global maritime forums.

Africa’s maritime moment has arrived. The time to invest, integrate, and innovate is now.

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