MOWCA Maritime Organization of West and Central Africa ie bae toes bhe Oey reristun Achievement ee is cae Lee ee ee eh maritime / transit transport service, high on safety, security, low on pollutionMOWCA MARITIME ORGANIZATION OF WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICA BP. V. 257 Abidjan Republic of COTE DIVOIRE Tel: (225) 20 21 7115 / 20 2231 93 Fax: (225) 20 21 65 54 / 22 42 38 02 e-mail: mowca@africaoniine.co.ci Website : www.marineatric.com DES rer. Coastal States * Angola | Ghana GE -Sierateone = = * Benin Be | - cunea HE «tego = + Cameroon | -cuneasiscu ma ‘Cape verde EE) - equatorial Guinea ES + Rep. of Congo Ml | beria = +D.R.of Congo MEH | + Mauritania || +coted'wore EE) «Nigeria i * Gabon TS «sao tome& Principe EEE +The Gambia | « senegal iMthis brochure gives an insight into Tiere Africa’s only sub-regional sectoral body dedicated to providing a platform for handling all maritime/transit transport matters common to its twenty-five member States. Since its inception, under a Charter of Abidjan in 1975, the organization has passed through highly challenging times and in the final analysis, has helped to greatly sensitize the sub-region regarding its role in world maritime development. Today, thanks to MOWCA and its develop- ment partners, the sub-region has policies, programs and projects that are aimed at ensuring : - the provision of cost effective maritime/ wansit transport service, with particular reference to the fast developing coastal shipping service; sub-regional common cabotage policy; transit transport facili- tation/the implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action on Transit Transport as well as development of multimodal transport and logistics services. - maritime Safety and Environmental Protection, with particular reference to combating piracy and armed robbery along the coast ; the implementation of the new International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) code ; the MOU on Port State Control ; the establishment of the integrated Coast Guard network in cooperation with IMO and development Partners, KOICA ; and the efficiency of ‘Maritime Academies. - effective flow of information in the sub- region and assisting Port State Control activities for the coordinated inspection of ships. Today no country or region can achieve trade efficiency without ensuring the efficiency of the chief servant of international trade : Maritime Transport. To achieve maritime transport efficiency is costly and involves the implementation of mandatory interna- tional and regional conventions, codes and regulations. There is no alternative to regional cooperation, such as offered by MOWCA, in the provision of cost-efficient maritime transport services. On behalf of the Chairman and the twenty-five member States of MOWCA, I wish to thank you for your interest in the organization. M. T. Addico Secretary-GeneralThe West and Central African sub-region, - from Mauritania down to Angola - const: tute one of Africa's three unique shipping ranges or maritime regions served by liner Conferences and other non-liner shipping companies. the other two being: East nd Southern Africa ; North Aftica/ Mediterranean. The counties in the maritime region share common problems of demand and supply for maritime/ transit transport services, and associated safety, security and pollution threats. The maritime region therefore lends itself to sectoral integration in this field. Indeed, the economies of the States in the West and Central African maritime region depend heavily on martime/ tronsit fronsport services. Twenty coastal States bordering the north and south Atlantic ocean, ‘and further five landlocked countries served through the coastal ports, generated in 2003 {an estimated 247 milion tons of dry/liquid bulk, containerised / general cargo, representing 48% ©f world cargo tonnage of 5129.4 million tons common waters containing some of the richest fishing grounds in the world; these shores are also a magnet for sun and surf seekers. At the same time, the sub-region’s coastal waters are home to some of the world busiest shipping routes, particularly heavy oil tanker traffic from the Arabian Gulf to north and south America and to northern Europe. The sub- region also harbours its own oil-producing countries with a network of oil tanker movements in its coastal waters. Maritime/transit transport is not only a vital servant of international trade, in itselt, F urthermore, the coastal countries share ee Our regional background it is international in character and mode of operation. The opportunities, problems and policy issues associated with maritime / {transit transport, transcend national bound- aries and can best be handled on integrated regional and international levels. These include: * the cost-effectiveness of shipping services * competitiveness and survival of national / regional operators * efficiency of seaports * availability of coastal shipping and transit transport services * efficiency of multi-modal transport systems * protection of shippers‘interests «the special case of landlocked countries * maritime safety, security * pollution prevention and control * maritime trainingMOWCA : A one-stop shop Established in May, 1975 under a CHAR OF ABIDJAN as the Ministerial Conference of West and Central African States on Maritime Transport (MINCONMAR), to foster sub-regional *To enable the sub-region to compete effectively against other regional blocs through economies of scale and economic co-operation within the region maritime cooperation among its member States, the organization was transformed in August 1999 into the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA), bringing together the 25 countries on the West and Central African shipping range in one of the world's major regional sectoral integration schemes. OWCA is Africa's only Inter- Mo corernmens sub-regional body dedicated to providing a platform for handling all maritime matters common to its member states. The Organization aims to harmonise maritime and port policies and strategies of member States in the sector of maritime/transit transport, ports, maritime safety, security and marine environmental protection OBJECTIVES * To serve the regional and international community as a one-stop shop for regional maritime matters * To ensure that the sub-region has a cost- effective shipping service that meets IMO’s high maritime safety, security and marine environmental protection standards *To assist member states to implement international maritime conventions and agreement on safety, marine pollution and training *To further the aims of the African Maritime Charter, the African Union, the UN's Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the West / Central African Economic Communities. ORGANIZATION AND. STRUCTURE +The supreme decision-making body of MOWCA is aGeneral Assembly of Ministers of Transport of member States meeting at ordinary sessions every two years and at Extraordinary sessions as necessary. * There are preparatory meetings of Experts of Member States before the sessions of the General Assembly. The experts meetings are chaired by the Chairman of Committee of Experts. * At each ordinary session, a Bureau is appointed, made up of a Chairman, two Vice-Chairmen, a Rapporteur and chairmen of three specialised committees- Committee on Maritime Safety and Environmental Protection - Committee on Maritime Transport and auxiliary activities - Committee on Specific problems of landlocked countries The Chairman and the Bureau play the role of a Board during the intervening period between ordinary sessions of the General Assembly. * MOWCA is serviced by a full time maritime professional elected as Secretary-General by the General Assembly of Ministers. The Secretary-General also heads the Permanent Secretariat of the Organization based at its headquarters in Abidjan. The Permanent Secretariat has Technical, Administrative and Financial functions. * MOWCA works through three specialised Organs and Maritime Academies : The Specialised organs the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA) the Union of African Shippers’Councils (UASQ) the Association of National Shipping Lines (ANSL). ‘The Maritime Academies the Regional Maritime Academy, Abidjan (ARSTM, for francophone member States) the Regional Maritime Academy, Accra (RMA for Anglophone member States) the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron MOWCA is financed through annual contributions of Member States and grants by donor agencies, which are normally project-oriented, MOWCA has also establis- hed a Regional Maritime Fund for sustain- able financing of sub-regional projects and programs.Polic oes aaah From the world-wide protectionist policies of the 1970s and 1980s, MOWCA's maritime policy in the 19905 and 2000, has shifted towards the iberalisation of trade and services. ‘his shift occurred as member States | MOWCA’s policy focuses on: became signatories of the GATT/WTO _* encouraging private sector participation and particularly the General Agreement _in ship operation, particularly in coastal on Trade and Services (GATS). Strategies have _ shipping, through ownership and chartering been adopted to strengthen domestic of tonnage and forging co-operative service capacity, efficiency and competi _ partnerships between regional operators tiveness so that member States can take _and foreign shipping companies operating advantage of the liberalisation of market _to the sub-region access. MOWCA has also adopted programs «developing coastal shipping networks to implement policies on maritime safety and feeder systems to connect hub and and environmental protection. spoke ports, and establishing an effective 8multi-modal transport system for the sub-region * port development and facilitation, with particular reference to achieving rapid and Cost-effective ship turn-around times, including the creation of special berths and conditions for landlocked countries * strengthening service-oriented shippers’ councils to protect and represent effec- tively the users of the shipping industry * strengthening the regional maritime academies of Abidjan, Accra, and the Nigerian Academy of Oron to provide training at all levels of the maritime, fishing and petroleum industry * establishing national transport observa- tories to be co-ordinated by a regional observatory based in the Permanent Secretariat of the Organization, to generate an up-to-date, uniform, computerised database for the entire sub-region promoting maritime safety and environ- mental protection, including the creation of effective contingency plans for pollution prevention and control, the enhancement of the efficiency of maritime administra- tions, and the implementation of flag and port State control measuresRealizing MOWCA policy objectives : MOWCA projects and programs Since its inception in May 1975, MOWCA has worked to achieve its objectives through active involvement in a wide range of projects and programs. Between 1975 and 1990, MOWCA, then known as MINCONMAR : * created an effective forum for cooperation in the field of maritime transport * followed a program of increasing the participation of the sub-region in the supply of shipping services, while pro- tecting the interests of shippers through shippers’ Councils. This was done through strenuous UNCTAD negotiations of the UN Liner code which guaranteed the right of developing countries not only to participate equitably in the supply of shipping services but to protect their interests through freight rate negotiations. + regionalised and strengthened three specialised Organs ;the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA), the Union of African Shippers’ Councils (UASC) and the Association of National Shipping Lines (ANSL). *regionalised and strengthened two Maritime Academies in Abidjan and Accra. Between 1990 and 1998, the then MIN- CONMAR continued to create an effective forum for its member States to cooperate within a changing world economic order; moving from protectionist policies towards liberalization. The Organization's projects and programs consequently focused on the following four major areas: the Sub-Saharan African Transport Program (SSATP) Project initiated by the World Bank. The two MINCONMAR / WORLD BANK Cotonou Round Tables 10 on maritime policy, held in 1992 and 1997, resulted in the adoption of an action plan to improve the efficiency of maritime transport in the sub-region. regional Co-operation for the establish- ment of Coastal shipping services. Feasibility studies, which combine transhipment, feedering, intra-regional traffic and passenger service, revealed sufficient demand to justify the esta- blishment of a sub-regional service. A promotional and commercial programme ‘was prepared to attract private sector participation. the second United Nations Transport and Communications Decade in Africa (1991-2000). The then MINCONMAR has been active in seeking funding to implement important sub-regional projects, including those in the areas of bulk transportation, maritime insurance, and establishment of a Regional Maritime Documentation, Research and Studies Institute. co-operation through the International ‘Maritime Organization (IMO) on maritime safety and environmental protection. Eleven regional projects were on theway ; these include developing Flag and Port State Control capabilities, assistance for maritime administrations, regional work shops and seminars, the development of national regulation for fishing vessels, the finalization of national / regional oil spill contingency plans. However with the establishment in 1998 of two IMO Regional Coordinating offices in Abidjan and Accra, the above agenda was largely transferred to these offices. ° per , focused on strengthening sub-regional co-operation and executing sub-regional maritime/ transit transport projects and programs. The period was characterised by drastic changes in the Mission and Direction of the Organization in order to achieve a sectoral integration of the Member States in the field of Maritime and Transit Transport. At an extraordinary session of the General Assembly of Ministers of Transport, held in Abidjan, in August 1999, * the name MINCONMAR was changed to MOWCA. * a revised set of objectives and a new organizational structure was approved. *a more self-reliant approach to the implementation of projects and programs through a new system of financing was adopted. The member States decided to establish a Regional Maritime Fund to provide a more sustainable means of financing national and sub-regional maritime/transit transport projects and programs. ‘+ the new MOWCA Mission : Towards achieving for the sub-region, a cost- effective maritime/transit transport service, high on safety, security and low on pollution.MOWCA thereon pursued projects and programs meant to realize its new Mission. The projects include * In the area of cost-effectiveness of maritime/transit transport service: - Coastal shipping service and. sub- regional cabotage policy, intended to provide a cost-effective coastal shipping service while fostering intra-AVrican trade and creating marine related jobs ; this ed to the establishment among others ‘of ECOMARINE, Satomar coastal shipping companies. = Transit Transport facilitation and System of “Grille Plombée” to promote the smooth and safe transit of cargoes through national borders, allowing for fluidity of cargo traffic by road. This involves the implementation of the United Nations Almaty Programme of Action on Transit Transport. - Development of Multimodal Transport and Logistics Services in the sub- region * In the areas of maritime safety, security and environmental protection = Development of Flag and Port State Control capabilities in West and Central Africa - Worked with IMO in convening three preparatory sub-regional meetings leading to the signing and the establish- ment in October 1999 of the Abuja MOU on Port State Control : meant to implement IMO conventions on Port State control for the coordinated inspection of ships calling in the ports of the sub-region in order to keep off sub-standard vessels. Integrated sub-regional coast guard network : the aim of the project is to implement relevant IMO conventions relating to providing security for ships, passengers and cargoes in the sub- region's coastal waters against piracy, armed robbery and other Unlawful Acts/ terrorism against Shipping (Imple- mentation of the SUA convention) as well as against marine pollution and illegal exploitation of the resources ofthe exclusive economic zones of member States of the Organization - Implementation of IMO's International Ship and Port facility Security (ISPS) code, Majority of MOWCA coastal member states are now compliant with the provisions of the code + Strengthening and fostering cooperation among Maritime Academies in the sub-region. The maritime academies are STCW 95 compliant and turning out highly qualified cadets + In the area of Information Flow : - Centre for Information and Communi- cations, whose purpose is to ensure the effective flow of information in the sub-region and to assist Port State Control activities for the coordinated inspection of ships in the ports of the member States of the Organization ; the up-loading of www.marineatric.com * In the area of sustainable financing of projects and programs - Regional Maritime Fund and the establishment of a Regional Maritime Bank ; for sustainable financing of National and Regional maritime and transit transport projects/programs.International co-operation RN le mportant partner organizations include the European Union, the Agence Canadienne pour le Developpement Industriel, Transport Canada, Fonds d’Aide et de Coopération (France), Administration General de Coopération au Development (Belgium), the Government of Iceland, and the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). MOWCA has also worked to sustain the achievements and continuance of such development projects, even after external financing has expired, by improving organi- sational and financing approaches to their planning and execution. +The liberalization / privatisation of shipping services, restructuring of shipper's Councils to make them more service-oriented, and private - sector Participation in port operations. 14 * The efficiency of maritime academies, maritime safety, security and environ- mental protection, flag and port state control implementation procedures, and facilitation of maritime transport. * Advanced Cargo Information System (ACIS), computerization of Custom pro- cedures (ASYCUDA), and multimodal transport networks. + Promoting investment in coastal ship- ping services and ports. Implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action on Transit Transport ; addressing the special needs and problems of land- locked developing countries. *The Development of an African Maritime Charter, providing a frame- work for realizing the maritime objec- tives of the project to establish an African Maritime Community.ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE OF MOWCA SYSTEM GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MINISTERS ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE OF GENERAL SECRETARIAT OF MOWCAMARITIME ORGANIZATION OF WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICA B.P. V. 257 Abidjan Republic of COTE DIVOIRE ) 20 21 71 15 / 202231 93, 25) 20 21 65 54 / 22 42 38 02 e-mail: mowca@ofricaoniine.co.ci Website : www.marineafric.com REGIONAL MARITIME ACADEMIES Tet eu) ear Te ge ened once senate av) Pata a oe Lagos (Nigeria) OS NAR Vee oN eee) Tel so Ue ACCP Acne ee ted eo oe Peto Poet o ee a ry ae Cet, eee eau cy Pe eeuers P.O. BOX 1115 Lees Ieee eared ca) icy CA ig Geacedl el ae eS Ree kecl rena) Arner ka Lg Corea e ee a Cu