Liberia has taken a significant step toward strengthening African maritime cooperation through a new partnership with Tanzania, aimed at expanding seafarer training, certification, and institutional collaboration.
Speaking on the agreement, Liberia’s Permanent Representative to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Robert Wilmot Kpadeh, described the partnership as a milestone for both countries and a strategic investment in Africa’s maritime future.
“Africa currently supplies only four percent of the world’s 1.9 million seafarers, despite its vast coastline. Together, we can train, certify and empower a new generation of African maritime professionals,” Kpadeh said.
Kpadeh added that cooperation between Liberia and Tanzania will help strengthen maritime governance frameworks while unlocking the continent’s vast blue economy potential. He emphasized that deeper regional collaboration is essential to building competitive maritime institutions and creating opportunities for African youth.
Speaking on behalf of Tanzania at the signing ceremony, Director General of the Tanzania Shipping Agencies Corporation (TASAC), Mohamed Salum, said the MoU establishes a practical framework for collaboration between the two countries.
“Liberia’s experience as a global leader in ship registration and compliance oversight offers Tanzania an opportunity to strengthen its international ship registry and maritime workforce,” Salum said.
He noted that Liberia, which recently overtook Panama in ship registration tonnage, brings decades of experience in global shipping, technical oversight, and active participation in the IMO.
According to Salum, the agreement will enable Tanzanian officials and seafarers to benefit from exchange programs, specialized technical training, and professional certification. These initiatives are expected to create opportunities for Tanzanian professionals to work aboard vessels registered under Liberia’s flag.
He emphasized that the partnership lays a strong foundation for professional growth and the long-term development of a more competitive maritime sector across Africa.
“This collaboration with Liberia marks an important step in enhancing our maritime training capacity and regulatory cooperation. By working together, we can raise professional standards, improve safety and efficiency, and position our countries to play a stronger role in the global maritime sector,” the Tanzanian maritime chief said.
The agreement also positions Tanzania to benefit from Liberia’s long-standing engagement at the IMO, including active participation in agenda submissions, technical committees, and global maritime policy discussions. This exchange of expertise is expected to support capacity building and align both countries more closely with international maritime standards.
The partnership reflects a shared commitment to advancing Africa’s presence in the global maritime industry and fostering sustainable development through skills transfer, knowledge sharing, and institutional cooperation.
