johannersbourg/Ministers Endorse Key Maritime Frameworks to Advance Green Ports, Decarbonisation and Digital Transformation

INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION DIRECTORATE

Press Release No: 098/2026                                          Date: 30 April 2026
Venue: Johannesburg, South Africa

Ministers Endorse Key Maritime Frameworks to Advance Green Ports, Decarbonisation and Digital Transformation

Ministers responsible for transport and energy endorsed key maritime policy and regulatory frameworks during the 5^th Ordinary Session of the Specialised Technical Committee on Transport and Energy (STC-T&E), marking an important step towards accelerating Africa’s green and digital maritime transformation.

The endorsed frameworks establish Africa’s common position on maritime decarbonisation, green port transformation, harmonised maritime governance under the Revised African Maritime Transport Charter (2010), and digital modernisation through the Maritime Single Window (MSW). The frameworks aim at enhancing Africa’s maritime competitiveness, climate resilience, and trade facilitation agenda under Agenda 2063 and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The Revised African Maritime Transport Charter (2010), which entered into force in August 2025, modernises Africa’s maritime governance framework by harmonising safety standards, environmental protection measures, and intra-African trade facilitation. Its implementation roadmap outlines milestones for ratification and domestication by AU Member States, alongside infrastructure modernisation and a mid-term evaluation planned for 2027.

The Green Ports Guidelines, developed in collaboration with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), provide a practical roadmap for African ports to adapt to climate risks while improving operational efficiency and global competitiveness. The Guidelines promote electrification of port equipment and operations, adoption of alternative fuels, digitalisation of port services and logistics systems, and climate-resilient infrastructure planning.

The Continental Strategy on Maritime Decarbonisation, developed in collaboration with the Ports and Transport Net Zero Africa (PATNA) Initiative, aligns Africa’s maritime sector with the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) net-zero emissions target by 2050. It responds to Africa’s exposure to external carbon measures, including the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) and Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), and calls for accelerated implementation of MARPOL Annex VI, green shipping corridors, port decarbonisation programmes, alternative marine fuels, and the establishment of an African Green Maritime Transition Facility.

The Maritime Single Window (MSW) Framework, developed in collaboration with the Sub-Saharan Africa Transport Policy Program (SSATP) World Bank, seeks to close Africa’s digital gap in port and vessel operations. With only 8 of Africa’s 26 coastal states currently operating MSWs, the Framework proposes a six-step programme to improve regulatory compliance, reduce operational costs, strengthen supply chain predictability, and optimise port performance.

The African Union Commission (AUC) called upon Member States, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), development partners, and the private sector to ratify and domesticate the Revised African Maritime Transport Charter (2010), accelerate implementation of MARPOL Annex VI, integrate the Green Ports Guidelines into national maritime and port development strategies, fast-track deployment of MSWs, and mobilise resources for the African Green Maritime Transition Facility.

The AUC also underscored the importance of cybersecurity legislation and digital resilience to protect emerging smart port infrastructure across the continent.

The endorsement of these frameworks marks a decisive step towards a more sustainable, competitive, and digitally enabled African maritime sector. Through enhanced decarbonisation, digitalisation, and governance reform, Africa is strengthening its position in the global maritime industry while promoting food security, sustainable trade competitiveness, and inclusive economic growth under Agenda 2063.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Ms. Bezayit Eyoel | Information Analyst | Department of Infrastructure and Energy| African Union Commission| E-mail: BezayitE@africanunion.org|

Mr. Gamal Eldin Ahmed A. Karrar | Senior Communication Officer | Information and Communication Directorate (ICD), African Union Commission | E-mail: GamalK@africanunion.org

Information and Communication Directorate, African Union Commission I E-mail: Media@africanunion.org
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