The 16th Ministerial Conference of the Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control for West and Central Africa (MoU of Abuja) opened at the Omar Bongo Ondimba Palace of Congress in Libreville, Gabon. The conference, which brings together delegations from 22 member states, will run until September 25. The theme of the conference is "Navigating the Sea, Sustainably Managing the Professional Career of Port State Control Officers." The conference aims to promote regional cooperation on maritime safety and control of sub-standard ships.
The conference was officially launched by the Minister of State for Transport, Merchant Navy, and Logistics, Ulrich Manfoumbi Manfoumbi, in the presence of the Vice-President of the Government, Hermann Immongault. Manfoumbi emphasized the importance of maritime transport, which accounts for over 80% of global trade in volume, and the need for constant vigilance in ensuring navigation safety, saving human life at sea, and protecting the marine environment.
The Director-General of the Gabonese Merchant Navy, Frédérique Avome Guevit, recalled that the MoU, signed in 1999 under the auspices of the International Maritime Organization, is approaching its 27th anniversary and remains a crucial barrier against the exploitation of sub-standard ships along the Atlantic coast. She and Manfoumbi highlighted the progress made in recent years, including the harmonization of inspection procedures, professionalization of control officers, and publication of lists of poorly performing ships.
Despite the progress made, challenges persist, including inequalities in inspection capacities between states and emerging issues such as decarbonization, digitalization, cybersecurity, aging fleets, and fraudulent registration practices. The conference will examine the 2025 activity report of the secretariat, regional inspection statistics, and the results of a targeted campaign on water management.
The conference will also discuss issues related to sanctioned ships with concealed ownership, parallel fleets, data governance, control of fishing vessels, and the welfare of seafarers under the 2006 Maritime Labor Convention. The participants will review the updated risk-based inspection regime and explore ways to address the challenges facing the region.
The MoU of Abuja is a regional agreement aimed at ensuring the safety of ships and protecting the marine environment in West and Central Africa. The agreement has 22 member states, which have committed to implementing a harmonized system of port state control to prevent the operation of sub-standard ships in the region.
The conference is expected to adopt a set of recommendations and resolutions aimed at strengthening regional cooperation on maritime safety and control of sub-standard ships. The outcome of the conference will contribute to enhancing the safety of navigation, protecting the marine environment, and promoting sustainable development in the region.
Key points
- The conference aims to promote regional cooperation on maritime safety and control of sub-standard ships.
- The MoU of Abuja has 22 member states committed to implementing a harmonized system of port state control.
- The conference will examine the 2025 activity report of the secretariat and regional inspection statistics.
