- The marine adventure in today’s ports : evolving to adapt to changes
- Training sessions and workshops with experts from the marine industry
- Achievements of the Moroccan marine industry
- The innovative and modern vision of the Moroccan maritime administration
From 21 to 24 May, the port of Tangier Med hosted the 14th edition of the International Congress of Harbour Masters, an unmissable event for the maritime industry where experts and port professionals met to exchange experiences and learn how to adapt to environmental and digitalisation challenges to ensure the fluidity and safety of maritime operations.
Organised by Tangier Med, in partnership with the International Harbour Masters Association (IHMA), the congress brought together the commanders and officers of ports in Africa and throughout the world to encourage exchanges and debates on port and maritime issues.
More than 200 people, including 30 world port authorities, are taking part in the first edition in Africa, and it offers a platform for exchanges and interesting knowledge in the region.
On this occasion, the Director of Ports and Maritime Public Domain of the Ministry of Equipment and Water, Sanae El Amrani, recalled that “Morocco has an ambitious port strategy for 2030, based on a very clear vision to have efficient and sustainable ports and to reinforce the position of the Kingdom as a world logistics platform”.
The marine adventure in today’s ports : evolving to adapt to changes
“Evolving and adapting to change for today’s ports” was the main theme of the International Congress of Harbour Masters; in addition to discussions on other topical issues such as the improvement of port operations, environmental management and the integration of new technologies to reinforce the efficiency and sustainability of the ports.
The congress provides a key forum for International Harbour Masters Association (IHMA) members, industry stakeholders, innovators and suppliers to the global port industry to collaborate, network, share information and provide updates on the latest technologies and solutions in the marine industry.
In this regard, Paul O’Regan, President of the IHMA, highlighted the importance of the event to discuss the latest innovations and technologies in safety and security, as well as advances in port infrastructures; underlining the relevance of promoting unity, cooperation and knowledge sharing among harbour masters from around the world.
For his part, Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary General of the International Maritime Organisation, insisted on the primordial role played by digitalisation and carbon neutrality in the success of the ports.
Training sessions and workshops with experts from the marine industry
The congress included training sessions, interactive workshops and speeches from expert panellists in port management, as well as social events and networking opportunities to exchange ideas and forge valuable connections in a friendly atmosphere.
The IHMC highlighted the latest innovations in optimising port operations, integrating new technologies and intelligence, and developing berths and port infrastructure.
In addition to discussing the statutory role of port commanders in security and incident management, a session was held on the importance of data in the maritime industry. The meeting concluded with an exploration of strategies for port call optimisation.
In his video message, the secretary general of the International Maritime Organisation, Arsenio Dominguez, said that “digitalisation is one of the keys to the success of the port interface, and that the path to carbon neutrality is open”.
Achievements of the Moroccan marine industry
Morocco has adopted a green transition plan for the ports, based on five strategic axes: energy and water efficiency, decarbonisation, resilience to climate change, protection of the port and marine environment and sustainable mobility.
These five pillars are aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals and reflect the strong commitment of stakeholders and port authorities to promote best practices and significantly reduce carbon emissions.
Along these lines, the Commander of the Port of Tangier Med, Kamal Lakhmas, stressed that “the choice of the Port of Tangier Med to host this congress is a recognition of the role it plays in world trade, as well as the role of the Harbour Master in the progress and innovation of the maritime and port industry”.
“We record more than 17,000 calls per year and more than 35,000 vessel movements planned and executed in the best conditions of safety and efficiency,” explained Lakhmas, further underlining, “We work with our partners to further improve our performance and achieve excellence with Just-in-Time calls in order to achieve a port without delay waiting.”
Within the MENA region and in Africa, Morocco stands out for its massive investments in its port infrastructures, with Tangier Med as the star of the international maritime scene, in addition to the ongoing mega-projects of the Atlantic Port of Dakhla and the West Med Port of Nador.
The innovative and modern vision of the Moroccan maritime administration
The captaincy, essential in the management and operation of maritime ports, plays an important role in Morocco’s economic development and maritime security.
In the Alaoui kingdom, the port authority is managed with a modern and efficient approach, focused on optimising port operations and integrating advanced technologies.
The port of Tangier Med, located at the crossroads of the main maritime routes between Europe, Africa and Asia, is the most notable example of this modernisation. It has become the largest container port in Africa and plays a decisive role not only for Morocco, but also as a logistics hub for the entire MENA region.
At the close of the congress, the congress shed light on the strong points which distinguish the management of the Moroccan ports led by Tangier Med:
- Innovation and technology in the management of container flows and logistics operations.
- Processing capacity and efficiency rivalling the major European ports, which reinforces its position as a major maritime hub.
- Security and regulation ensuring reliability and confidence and attracting more international operators and shipping lines.
- Sustainable development through significant initiatives to minimise the ecological impact of port activities and practices such as “green port”.