The International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the European Union (EU) have jointly launched the “Future-Ready Shipping in Africa” project, a major initiative aimed at guiding African nations toward a greener, more digitally advanced maritime sector. With €5 million in EU funding, the project focuses on sustainable development, environmental protection, and improving gender balance within the maritime workforce.
Strengthening Governance and Green Fuel Infrastructure
A key pillar of the project is improving maritime governance across African countries. The initiative will support governments in aligning national laws with MARPOL Annex VI and IMO climate regulations, ensuring that policies match international decarbonization standards.
Alongside governance, the project places strong emphasis on preparing Africa for the future of alternative fuels. Feasibility studies and business cases will be developed for setting up bunkering infrastructure for green fuels and creating green shipping corridors in selected ports. These efforts aim to position Africa as a competitive player in the emerging low-carbon maritime economy.
Driving Digital Transformation and Enhancing Maritime Training
Digitalization forms another core focus of the initiative. Through readiness assessments and national roadmaps for Maritime Single Window (MSW) implementation, the project will support African ports in improving data interoperability, security, compliance, and environmental reporting.
Additionally, the project will upgrade maritime education and training (MET) by modernizing curricula to include digital tools, alternative fuels, and biodiversity protection. Scholarships and specialized training will help build a skilled, diverse workforce ready to meet the demands of the future maritime landscape.
By combining regulatory support, alternative fuel development, digital transformation, and education reform, the “Future-Ready Shipping in Africa” project aims to create lasting impact across Sub-Saharan Africa. With five countries set to be selected through an expression-of-interest process, the initiative promises to strengthen maritime capabilities, accelerate decarbonization, and position the region for sustainable growth in the global shipping sector.
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Source: IMO
