Effective and Sustainable Shipping and Port Development in Africa

Africa’s maritime sector stands at a critical juncture of transformation and growth. With over 30,000 km of coastline, the continent’s ports facilitate approximately 90% of its international trade, making maritime infrastructure central to economic development. Recent years have witnessed significant investments in port modernisation, new shipping routes, and an increased focus on maritime security and environmental sustainability. Yet African ports and shipping sectors continue to face challenges including infrastructure gaps, operational inefficiencies, and complex regulatory environments. The implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has emphasised maritime transport’s strategic importance in facilitating intra-African trade and global commerce, while the growing presence of international stakeholders in port development has introduced new dynamics to the sector’s development trajectory (Aryee and Hansen 2022; Sahoo et al. 2024; Ayesu and Boateng 2024).