Maritime Policy and Strategy for African Coasts

Abstract

In modern African coastal and all other waterborne navigation, there have definitely been success stories and also harrowing moments which have raised concerns about the safety of costal personnel, cargo and the ship. However, it is important to highlight that there is a continent wide, purposeful maritime strategy and vision for industry participants engaged in trade, commerce, supply chain and logistics. This paper seeks to highlight Africa's ambitious and achievable Maritime Strategy, the policy around the vision of the strategy and how its goals will be achieved and the significant bodies committed to making this possible for the African Continent. The maritime industry is global in nature and it is every important to perceive the African maritime policy voice more and more going forward and to consider data on the relationship between the African continent, the future success vision the continent has for itself and the international treaties to make the industry successful for its participants around the globe. What is evident in this paper is that just like the silver mines of Laurion saved ancient Greece by providing great funding for the Greek navy, military power on the waters is still going to be the force behind making any coasts safe and successful for maritime trade and other ocean and water related positive activities, therefore collaboration in the exercising of such power by the developed world with African States is still going to be the secret sauce of global equitable, peaceful trade African navigation. This conversation is even more important as scientists inform us that the Nubian tectonic plates are moving in Somalia to reveal another ocean in Africa, even though this phenomena will take many more millennia.