Importance of Ship Registries Highlighted at MARADS 2013

The creation and revival of ship registries within African states has been identified as an integral part of developing the continent's maritime industry at the Heads of African Maritime Administrators Conference which is taking place this week.

Chairperson of the Association of African Shipowners Funmi Folorunso said in her closing address of the first day's discussions:

"We know that with the ship finance that we’re proposing our ship registries must also take cognizance of things that are right now not available in their ship registry/ship registration procedures. There are states with no ship registries – we are going to be coming to you to seek from you an acceptance that ship registries – not as a stand-alone but as a part - we must have a ship registry office, unions in all administrations to take ship registration into a global context."

Folorunso's full speech can be seen in the following video:

The OGSR will continue to provide updates on MARADS 2013 as well as Africa Maritime Indaba which begins tomorrow.