Morocco Maritime Fleet Revival Strategy 2024

Morocco wants to take back control at sea. The Minister of Transport and Logistics, Abdessamad Kayouh, reminded the House of Representatives on Monday that King Mohammed VI had called, in his 2023 Green March speech, for serious consideration of creating a strong and competitive maritime fleet.

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The stakes are strategic. According to the minister, 95% of Morocco’s trade depends on maritime transport. A reality that makes the reconstruction of a national flag all the more urgent, in a context marked by the royal Atlantic initiative and the requirements of international trade.

The decline is significant. In the 1970s, the kingdom had approximately 80 ships operated by various companies. In 2024, the sector has shrunk considerably, with only 12 companies, according to figures presented by Abdessamad Kayouh.

Rebuilding What Was Lost

To revive this maritime power, Morocco organized study days dedicated to this project in Tangier last May, under royal patronage. The meeting brought together the Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization and the main players in the sector.

The objective was to consider ways to revive the national fleet, but also possible forms of support. The minister mentioned the question of financial support, public aid and proposals capable of supporting Moroccan operators.

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The issue therefore goes beyond the simple question of the number of ships. It touches on Morocco’s commercial sovereignty, its place in maritime routes and its ability to support its Atlantic ambitions. For Rabat, rebuilding a national fleet amounts to securing an essential lever of its economy.