Morocco Invests $300 Million in Africa’s Largest Shipyard to Rival European Industry

The Casablanca shipyard will be built on a 21-hectare site and dedicated not only to repair and maintenance but also to ship construction. The complex is expected to produce 100 ships by 2040 to compete with shipyards in southern Europe, such as those in Spain and Navantia. The Moroccan government has already invested $300 million in this megaproject, reports El Economista. The shipyard will include a dry dock 244 meters long and 40 meters wide, as well as a vertical lift capable of accommodating ships up to 9,000 tons.

Morocco’s National Ports Agency (ANP) launched a call for tenders a few weeks ago for the shipyard’s concession for a period of 30 years. The ANP is looking for an experienced international operator capable of developing, equipping, and operating this complex efficiently. The goal is to achieve significant performance in record time, as in the automotive industry sector. In just a decade, Morocco has become Africa’s leading car exporter thanks to Renault and Stellantis, which, attracted by low-cost labor, political stability, and tax incentives, have established themselves in the kingdom.

With the New Casablanca Port Shipyard, Morocco wants to absorb the market share of Spanish shipyards and compete with Navantia, says Abdellatif Lhouaoui, ANP’s communications director. Morocco has 3,500 km of coastline, more than 1.2 million km of maritime space, and more than 43 ports, including 14 commercial ports. In addition to the Casablanca shipyard, the kingdom has implemented measures to promote the naval industry, such as creating a plan to improve port infrastructure. A major competitor to the Spanish port of Algeciras, the port of Tanger-Med recorded growth of 18.8% in 2024, with 10.24 million containers handled (TEU).