Morocco intends to give new momentum to its national maritime fleet, a sector considered strategic for the Kingdom’s economy. Relying on maritime transport for nearly 95% of its trade, the country wants to strengthen its national fleet in order to support its economic and logistics ambitions.
Speaking before the House of Representatives, the Minister of Transport and Logistics, Abdessamad Kayouh, recalled that King Mohammed VI had called, in his 2023 Green March speech, for in-depth reflection on the creation of a strong, modern and competitive national maritime fleet.
For the government, this objective responds to an issue of sovereignty. Maritime transport constitutes the Kingdom’s main route for supplies and exports, making it essential to develop a fleet capable of supporting the growth of foreign trade and Morocco’s Atlantic ambitions.
The minister also pointed to the significant decline of the Moroccan fleet. In the 1970s, the Kingdom had nearly 80 vessels operated by various national shipping companies. Today, the sector has shrunk considerably, with only 12 shipping companies recorded in 2024.
In order to reverse this trend, Morocco organized last May, in Tangier, the first study days dedicated to the development of the national fleet, under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI. The meeting brought together the main stakeholders in the sector as well as the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization to reflect on the means of reviving the Moroccan fleet.
Among the options discussed are the establishment of financing mechanisms, support measures for national shipowners, as well as initiatives aimed at strengthening the competitiveness of the sector.
Beyond the development of maritime transport, Rabat sees this project as a genuine strategic lever to consolidate its economic sovereignty, strengthen its position on the major international trade routes and support the Kingdom’s ambitions in the Atlantic area. The revival of a national maritime fleet therefore appears as a key element of Morocco’s strategy for the coming decades.
