South Africa to Host Ports’ Caucus to Set Course for a Sustainable African Maritime Transport Sector

The African Harbour Masters Committee (AHMC) Conference taking place from 2 – 4 April, Cape Town will bring together leading African Ports, Maritime Regulators, Stakeholders, Maritime Experts and Development Agencies to assess progress in African ports on key issues such as data collaboration, energy transition, maritime domain awareness, gender main-streaming and capacity building.

The conference which will see participation of over 200 maritime transport experts is an opportunity for the maritime transport sector stakeholders to agree on a common set of actions needed to head-off numerous unprecedented challenges affecting ports such as reshaping political priorities in the Global North, escalating geopolitical tensions and unchecked multi-lateralism.

Conference sub-themes include: Port Infrastructure and Operations systems: Enhancing Capacity for Africa’s Future; The role of the Harbour Master in the Implementation of Maritime Single Window; Gender Equality and Empowerment in the Maritime Industry; Maritime Law and Insurance – Place of Refuge; De-carbonization of Ports and Shipping: Towards Sustainable Maritime Transport; Security in African Waters: Protecting Ports and Maritime Trade; The Blue Economy: Leveraging Marine Resources for Africa’s Growth; Training and Skills Development for the Maritime Workforce in Africa.

The forum is a collaboration between: The International Harbour Masters Association (IHMA), African Harbour Masters Committee (AHMC), the Port Management Association for Eastern & Southern Africa (PMAESA) and Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA).

TNPA currently holds the presidency of the AHMC Executive Committee.

“This is an opportunity for all players in the maritime transport sector to hear directly from port management authorities and harbour masters about key priorities which require urgent attention, how and when they will be tended and as well as what financing is required”, says Capt. Thulani Dubeko, Harbour Master at TNPA and President, AHMC.

“The sustenance of regional integration, structured investments for sustainable port development, economic growth and promoting inclusivity of various approaches to boost intra-Africa trade has become even more paramount in ensuring Africa continues to develop at a rapid pace in the face of global uncertainty” says Col. Andre Ciseau, PMAESA Secretary General and co-chair of the AHMC Conference.

The AHMC event coincides with PMAESA’s Annual General Meeting which takes place on 1st April. The AGM is a technical forum for port authorities held to facilitate dialogue between African Ports & Development Partners.

Source : PMAESA