AMSSA Maritime Safety: -
Safe ships, safe ports, safe cargo
Safety does not end when a ship reaches the quay. Accidents can happen at sea, alongside the berth, in the container yard, and on the road, rail or inland waterway link that carries cargo onward. AMSSA's maritime safety work follows the whole chain, from vessel to port to the next mode of transport. We help African nations raise and align their safety standards, strengthen inspection and oversight, and share what works across the continent.
Why it Matters
More than 400 million people in Africa's coastal zones depend on fishing, shipping and tourism for their livelihoods. Limited hydrographic data and congested ports raise the risk of groundings and collisions, and many national maritime administrations have limited resources..
Safe shipping rests on a global framework. The IMO's SOLAS Convention sets minimum standards for the construction, equipment and operation of ships, and countries must make sure ships under their flag comply. Many developing countries still find it hard to give full effect to these rules, which is why the IMO runs a technical cooperation programme with particular attention to Africa. AMSSA's role is to help African nations turn international standards into everyday practice.
What we do!
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Harmonising standards. We support pan-African safety standards covering vessel design, construction, equipment and crew competency.
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Aligning with international conventions. We help member states bring national law into line with SOLAS, MARPOL, the ISM Code and STCW.
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Risk assessment and accident investigation. We work to build the capability to assess risk and investigate accidents, so lessons lead to prevention.
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Supporting implementation. We provide model regulations and practical guidance to help states put international standards into national law.
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Inspections, audits and compliance. We develop an audit methodology aligned with IMO and EMSA good practice, and support harmonised Port State Control, flag State implementation audits and port facility inspections.
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Training and professional development. We design programmes for maritime safety inspectors and search and rescue coordinators, and a scholarship scheme for African maritime professionals.
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Port workers. We promote good practice in port safety and health, guided by the ILO Code of Practice, which covers lifting equipment, operations on shore and afloat, vehicle movement and emergency arrangements.researchrepository.
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Packing and securing cargo. We encourage use of the CTU Code, which gives guidance to everyone in the transport chain, from those packing a container to those unpacking it.
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Container weight. We help shippers and terminals understand the SOLAS requirement to verify the gross mass of a packed container before loading.
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Dangerous goods. We promote awareness of the IMDG Code for the packing, stowage and segregation of dangerous goods.
Safety in ports and cargo handling
Working with international standards
- SOLAS, MARPOL, ISM Code and STCW. These conventions guide our standards work.
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IMO Member State Audit Scheme. Our audit approach is designed to be compatible with the IMO's scheme, and to support member states preparing for their own audits.
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Search and rescue. We support regional cooperation and training for SAR coordinators. The IMO's SAR Convention aims at a global plan in which neighbouring rescue organisations work together.
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Fishing vessel safety. We will promote awareness of the Cape Town Agreement, which sets mandatory safety requirements for larger fishing vessels and is due to enter into force in February 2027.
Our 2026 priorities
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Establish an African Maritime Safety Standards Technical Working Group.
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Commission technical studies on safety gaps in selected member states.
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Develop model regulations and guidance documents.
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Hold training and capacity-building workshops on safety standards.
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Begin the annual State of Maritime Safety in Africa report, to set a baseline for improvement.
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Develop the audit methodology, run pilot audits in three to four maritime administrations, and launch a Port State Control data-sharing platform.
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Establish an African Maritime Safety Standards Technical Working Group.
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Commission technical studies on safety gaps in selected member states.
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Develop model regulations and guidance documents.
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Hold training and capacity-building workshops on safety standards.
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Begin the annual State of Maritime Safety in Africa report, to set a baseline for improvement.
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Develop the audit methodology, run pilot audits in three to four maritime administrations, and launch a Port State Control data-sharing platform.
Where we are heading by 2031
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80% of member states aligned with key IMO conventions
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20% reduction in maritime
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20 maritime administrations audited by AMSSA
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80% of port states using harmonised inspection procedures
These are goals set out in our five-year strategy, not results achieved to date.
Working together
