Liberia identified for ship recycling, building and repair

South Korea assesses maritime opportunities in Liberia

LIBERIA: South Korea is assessing three potential sites in Liberia for the establishment of ship demolition and recycling, shipbuilding and ship repair facilities after a high-level delegation from the Make Group visited the country last week.

A delegation led by Make Group Chairman, James Juhee Han, visited the Liberia Maritime Authority (LiMA) headquarters in Monrovia with the objective of advancing plans to invest in the country’s maritime sector.

Presenting assessment reports identifying Grand Bassa, Margibi, and Montserrado counties as suitable sites for the construction of ship demolition and recycling, shipbuilding, and repair facilities, Han outlined a plan to establish a sustainable ship value chain between 2026 and 2030 that aligns with the Hong Kong Convention’s standards on environmentally safe ship recycling.

The meeting builds on two previous engagements earlier this year, in Monrovia and Seoul, where both parties discussed opportunities to strengthen Liberia’s maritime infrastructure, expand inland water transport, and boost local workforce capacity through training.

According to a statement from LiMa, such an investment has the potential to create up to 10,000 new jobs while simultaneously enhancing coastal connectivity through safe and efficient inland water transportation.

“Liberia is committed to fostering a conducive business environment to support your investment,” said the CEO of LiMA, Neto Zarzar Kighe, who provided assurances to expedite the review of the draft Memorandum of Agreement.

This initiative comes on the heels of Liberia’s renewed diplomatic engagement with South Korea, highlighted by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s participation in the Korea-Africa Summit last year.

PHOTO: Monrovia Coast in Montserrado county, Liberia. (Source: Adobe Photostock)