€1.2m pledged to support African administrations

The aim of the contract is to enhance flag State implementation and port State control in Western and Central Africa, with a view to upgrading the region’s maritime administrations and preparing its States for the mandatory IMO audit scheme.

IMO will be carrying out the two-year programme, identifying the individual countries’ needs in terms of enhancing their capacity to carry out their flag State responsibilities.

There will also be a focus on port State control, such as training for ship inspectors, in order to support the functioning of the Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control for West and Central Africa Region (Abuja MoU) – an inter-governmental organisation comprising the maritime administrations of countries bordering the Atlantic coast of Africa.

It is expected that the project will lead to the maritime Administrations being audited in accordance with the IMO Audit Scheme, which is expected to become mandatory in 2016 following the adoption and entry into force of amendments to the relevant IMO instruments.

It is also expected that the projects will result in enhancing the effectiveness of the Abuja MoU on port State control.

The overall support programme for the maritime transport sector is intended to contribute towards Africa’s economic growth, connectivity and the promotion of regional integration, and will look to complement other maritime transport programmes on the continent, says the EU.

While it has a strong focus on Western and Central Africa, it may also be extended to other ACP regions.