The second Maritime Administrators Conference (MARADS) was hosted in Johannesburg by the South African Marine Safety Authority (SAMSA), an entity of the South African department of Transport during October.

It focused on developing intra-African marine trade as well as marine trade between Africa and other parts of the world.

Tsietsi Mokhele, SAMSA CEO, says, “This is an historic event.Africa as a continent is re-defining its position in global maritime trade, and we are constructing the structures and methodologies with which to do that.”

With the economies of the developed world in turmoil and new businesses in Asia facing tough competition, shipping entrepreneurs are turning their attention to Africa. As the world’s second-largest continent, it has large and valuable reserves of minerals and other commodities. It is also home to more than one billion people, many of whom are starting to move out of poverty and represent a significant developing market.

According to the World Bank, a third of all countries in sub-Saharan Africa grew at more than 6% in 2012, and the continent is likely to grow at 5.2% this year. As a result, shipping entrepreneurs are investigating the potential that Africa represents, and South Africa in particular could well become a major maritime power.

Mokhele adds, “What few people realise is that 90% of Africa’s imports and exports are transported by seaand that 98% of all sea trade on the continent passes through South Africa.”

“Africa’s infrastructure and trading capacity must nevertheless be such that we can reap the benefits that accrue from increasing economic activities on the continent and from South Africa’s unique geo-economic position. It is for this reason that we strongly support the AU’s maritime objectives, and look forward to creating the structures needed to take African maritime trade into the future.”

For more information about the SA Maritime Safety Authority, visit www.samsa.org.za.