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By Shannon A. L. Scott
The Sierra Leone Maritime Administration is hosting a three-day workshop to deliberate on four important maritime bills held at the Atlantic Lumley Hotel in Freetown on Tuesday 12th August 2025.

Giving the keynote speech, Minister of Transport and Aviation Hon. Alhaji Fanday Turay Esq. said that Sierra Leone Maritime Administration is a constituent organization recognized by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to interpret and enforce maritime conventions and their respective attachments. “Sierra Leone's location is geographically very strategic with enormous maritime potentials. Sierra Leone is a flag state with hundreds of ships flying the country’s flag, a port state having one of the deepest natural harbours in the world and a coastal state adjoining an immensely important international sea route.

“In order to effectively regulate ships sailing in Sierra Leone's port, coastal , sea routes and ships flying the country’s flag, we must develop and domesticate an effective framework of ratified statutory instruments, treaties and conventions, which will check abuses and violations of existing national and international sea laws. It is for this reason that we have invited key stakeholders and experts in the marine industry and its organs to remain in this hotel for the next three days to reflect, critique and be co-architects in the development of the legislative structure for a safer, competitive and sustainable marine industry for Sierra Leone” he averred.

Sierra Leone Maritime Administration Deputy Executive Director Ing. Emmanuel B. A. Lansana said the bills to be endorsed include the Merchant Shipping Act, Marine Pollution Bill, Liability and Compensation Bill, and Sierra Leone Port Facility and Ship Security Bill.

According to him, the bills aim to modernize maritime law, promote environmental protection, make provisions for liability and compensation in marine accidents, and enhance maritime security. He further underscored the importance of the workshop saying for the domestication of international maritime conventions into national law to address Sierra Leone member state obligations within the IMO, increase regulatory authority, and maintain global reputation. On behalf of the Board Chair, Mr. Eugene Ayo Cole addressed and clarified that Sierra Leone law requires all traditional and international treaties into which they entered have to be ratified in Parliament before implementation. He said that consultations like this one must come to agreement among the stakeholders within the industry.

“These legal instruments will be employed to reinforce the Administration's regulatory framework to cope with existing and future challenges and improve the positions on the world maritime stage” he stressed.

He clarified that Sierra Leone has been blessed with over 400 kilometers of coastline and growing interests with the diversification into a blue economy potentials. Sierra Leone must be positioned to include evolving demand of international maritime trade, protection of the environment and maritime security.

He said Sierra Leone Maritime Administration under this present board, with the support and commitment of the Ministry of Transport and Aviation, has devoted months of consultations, internal and external. He further encouraged stakeholders to carefully examining and amending the bills so that they are legally rationalized, operationally effective, and fit in the national perspective.