The Secretary-General of the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA), Dr Paul Adalikwu, has reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to improving safety standards in ferry and inland waterways transportation across West and Central Africa, following its participation in the 50th anniversary conference of Interferry in Bangkok, Thailand.
The conference, held from October 31 to November 4, 2026, was hosted by Chao Phraya Express Boat under the theme, “Stronger Than Ever… Together,” bringing together global stakeholders to discuss developments, challenges and opportunities in the international ferry industry.
MOWCA’s participation underscored its commitment to strengthening international cooperation, promoting knowledge exchange and building strategic partnerships to advance maritime connectivity, regional integration and safer water transportation across its 25 member states.
Adalikwu commended Interferry for its growth over the past five decades, noting that the organisation, founded in the United States in 1976 as the International Marine Transit Association, has evolved into the leading global trade association for the ferry industry, with about 300 member companies and more than 2,200 individual members across over 40 countries.
He noted that Interferry had established a strong reputation through its advocacy at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), safety initiatives and efforts to promote practical pathways to decarbonisation in the ferry sector.
While celebrating the milestone, the MOWCA Secretary-General drew attention to the persistent loss of lives arising from ferry accidents in West and Central Africa, stressing the need for stronger safety measures and coordinated regional interventions.
According to him, more than 8,000 lives have been lost in ferry-related incidents across the sub-region over the past decade, with Nigeria, Senegal and the Democratic Republic of Congo among the most affected countries.
He identified overloading, poorly maintained vessels, weak regulation and enforcement, inadequate safety equipment, insufficient crew training, night-time operations without proper illumination and adverse weather conditions as some of the major factors contributing to accidents.
Adalikwu said MOWCA’s efforts to address the challenge had gained momentum through coordinated regional initiatives, recalling that the organisation partnered with the IMO and the International Maritime Rescue Federation in mid-2024 to organise a regional workshop in Libreville, Gabon.
The workshop produced the Libreville Action Plan, which prioritises stronger regulatory frameworks, crew and technical training, vessel seaworthiness, safe boarding and cargo handling, improved navigation aids, traffic monitoring and effective search-and-rescue systems.
Further advancing the regional safety agenda, MOWCA co-hosted the Regional Ferry Safety Conference in Lagos in June 2025 with Interferry and the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA).
The conference, themed “Charting Safer Waters: Advancing Ferry Safety through Innovation, Collaboration and Integrated Transport Solutions,” attracted about 220 policymakers, operators, regulators and other industry stakeholders.
A major outcome was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Adalikwu and Interferry Chief Executive Officer, Mike Corrigan, establishing a framework for long-term cooperation in public awareness campaigns, capacity-building, regulatory strengthening, infrastructure and sustainability studies, and knowledge-sharing between international operators and African stakeholders.
As part of the implementation of the agreement, Interferry subsequently launched an 18-month Ferry Safety Development and Mentoring Programme in Lagos in partnership with LASWA.
The initiative, described as the first of its kind in Africa, is designed to train about 50 captains, engineers and managers through digital learning, virtual mentoring by international experts and practical training sessions.
MOWCA is also leveraging its engagements with the IMO, the African Union and development partners to promote the application of Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) principles adapted to inland and coastal water transportation, fleet modernisation and the adoption of technologies such as the Automatic Identification System (AIS) and weather-monitoring systems.
The organisation is equally advocating a stronger safety culture across ferry operations in its member states.
Adalikwu maintained that improving ferry safety goes beyond protecting lives, noting that reliable and efficient water transportation is essential to unlocking the blue economy, facilitating trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and strengthening connectivity among coastal and landlocked countries.
He said MOWCA’s participation in Interferry’s golden jubilee conference reinforced its determination to translate regional safety commitments and action plans into measurable improvements in water transportation across West and Central Africa.
