Africa in Focus: Shaping the Continent’s Maritime Future

Eng. Ahmed Al Akkad, representing AK-Group, joined a FONASBA panel in Turkey, bringing a shipowner’s perspective with a focus on Africa’s maritime realities. The session, moderated by Antonio Belmar da Costa, featured Antonios Venieris (Greece), Anderson Costa (Brazil), Nikos Marmatsouris (Greece), and Ahmed Al Akkad (Egypt).

Highlights from Eng. Ahmed’s presentation included:

Establishing a FONASBA Regional Office in Egypt to coordinate training, certification, and stakeholder engagement.
Creating African Working Groups to ensure regional realities shape FONASBA policy.
Tailoring FONASBA/BIMCO contracts for African contexts to reduce disputes and attract investment.
Building banking and insurance recognition through endorsements and compliance training.
Launching an “Africa Spotlight” across FONASBA channels and events.
Accelerating training and pilots for shore power, cleaner fuels, and efficiency aligned with IMO goals.

He noted challenges such as regulatory inconsistencies, Red Sea route disruptions, EU-ETS/MSW compliance impacts, and uneven port infrastructure.

“Africa’s maritime future rests on professionalism, predictability, and practical cooperation. Pairing FONASBA’s global standards with regional execution will cut friction and unlock new opportunities for shipowners and agents”

Eng. Ahmed Al-Akkad, chairman AK-Group.

Local Strength. Global Standards

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