Calling for continental maritime alignment

Conference highlights the need for African collaboration

SOUTH AFRICA: The need for collaboration, harmonisation and alignment across Africa’s maritime space once again come under the spotlight throughout last week’s Maritime Forward Africa Conference in Cape Town organised by the Maritime Business Chamber (MBC).

“We are here to move the African maritime agenda forward,” Unathi Sonti, Executive Chairperson of the MBC told delegates on the first day of the conference. “We must unite Africa under one action-orientated platform,” he added.

Noting the separate national campaigns being undertaken to gain a seat on the International Maritime Organisation’s Council, he contended that a united effort to strategically campaign for African representation would better serve the interests of the continent.

“With a coordinated effort, we are more likely to gain representation,” he told delegates, relaying the same message that he had delivered to the Association of African Maritime Administrators at their conference held in Liberia last month.

Sonti’s opening emphasis on collaboration was woven into most of the panel discussions during the three-day conference and echoed by speakers from several jurisdictions.

In his keynote address discussing Africa’s maritime policy frameworks, Kassim Mpaata, Secretary General of the Maritime Organisation for Eastern, Southern, and Northern Africa (MOESNA), highlighted the potential impact of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement and what it could mean for the establishment of a regional cabotage regime.

“It will promote African trade and connect Africa,” he said calling for a regional maritime transport policy. “We are ready to work with likeminded organisations and ready to act as one region,” he said.

“The solution lies in collaboration and working together to reduce the silo mentality,” he added.

The Maritime Single Window (MSW) was also singled out as an important tool to promote harmonisation across borders and facilitate seamless trade opportunities. “We must use this as a way to integrate Africa,” noted the Deputy Minister of Transport, Mkhuleko Hlengwa who was on hand to open the event.

Elijah Mbaru, CEO of Kenya Shipping Agents, noted the lack of progress in this regard as he urged African States not to “reinvent the wheel” and to draw on shared experiences in establishing their MSWs.

Hlengwa also noted the importance of the Revised African Maritime Transport Charter which has now come into force following the deposit of the 15^th instrument of ratification by Uganda in August this year. “African maritime ambitions are within our reach,” he told delegates.

Legal frameworks are, of course, key for achieving alignment. Joining the panel to discuss the role of law in combatting illegal activities, Gavin Fitzmaurice of Webber Wentzel also emphasised the importance of alignment. “We need regional cooperation and work towards regional enforcement,” he said.

Also discussing legal framework, but within the context of small businesses, Bhongolwethu Sonti noted that, in many cases, there is too much legislation and an over emphasis on compliance rather than harmonising systems to foster SMMEs in the maritime space.

Closing the conference, Unathi Sonti reiterated this call for collaboration.  

 PHOTO: Unathi Sonti, Mkhuleko Hlengwa,  Kassim Mpaata and Rodeigo Alvarez at the beginning of the conference. (©Maritime Review Africa)

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