Announcements

By Shannon A.L. Scott
The Sierra Leone Maritime Administration (SLMA) yesterday Thursday 25th September, 2025 joined the global maritime community in commemorating the 48th World Maritime Day at the Maritime House, Government Wharf Ferry Terminal in Freetown. The celebration was held under this year’s International Maritime Organization (IMO) theme: “Our Ocean, Our Obligation, Our Responsibility.”

The event brought together government officials, industry stakeholders, development partners, and the media to reaffirm Sierra Leone’s commitment to protecting its marine environment while tapping into the opportunities of the blue economy.

Delivering the keynote address, Acting Minister of Transport and Aviation, Rex Bhonapha, emphasized that Sierra Leone’s obligations under IMO conventions are crucial for ensuring clean waters, sustainable fisheries, and resilient coastal communities. “At the same time, within every obligation lies opportunity,” he noted. “By modernizing our ports, training our seafarers to international standards, and investing in aquaculture, renewable energy, eco-tourism, and ship repair facilities, Sierra Leone can build a vibrant blue economy that creates jobs and secures our future.”

The Minister also announced government’s backing for the establishment of a world-class maritime training academy to equip the next generation of Sierra Leonean seafarers with internationally recognized skills. SLMA’s Director of Shipping and Environment,Ronald N. Moore, highlighted the central role of the maritime sector in global trade.“Over 85 percent of world trade depends on maritime transport, making oceans indispensable to both global commerce and Sierra Leone’s development,” he said. “For Sierra Leone, the ocean is more than a resource , it is our lifeline.”

He underscored the sector’s contributions to trade, fisheries, and mineral exploration, noting that fishing alone accounts for nearly 12 percent of national GDP. He also pointed to new initiatives such as SeaGate and Sierra Leone’s submission to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, which signal significant untapped potential in offshore resources and maritime trade.

Chairperson of SLMA’s Board of Directors,Hon. Bintu Myers, stressed the importance of Sierra Leone’s strategic maritime assets.“With 400 kilometers of coastline and one of the world’s deepest natural harbors, the sea is vital to our nation’s survival,” she said. “Our seas provide food, transport, trade, and tourism opportunities. But with these benefits come obligations. We must not over-exploit fisheries, pollute our waters, or degrade the ecosystems that sustain us” she averred.

She added that SLMA is strengthening its legal and regulatory framework, training technical and administrative staff, and enhancing institutional capacity to protect the country’s maritime resources.

The event closed with a renewed call for collaboration. “The ocean belongs to all of us. Safeguarding it is our shared responsibility,” Minister Bhonapha concluded. “Together, government, industry, and communities can transform Sierra Leone into a regional maritime hub and ensure that our ocean remains a source of pride, prosperity, and protection for generations to come.”