The Secretary-General of the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA), Dr Paul Adalikwu, has reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to safer and more sustainable ferry and inland waterways transportation across West and Central Africa.
Adalikwu made this known as MOWCA joined global maritime stakeholders to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Interferry at its annual conference held in Bangkok, Thailand, from October 31 to November 4, 2026.
The conference, hosted by Chao Phraya Express Boat under the theme, “Stronger Than Ever… Together,” provided a platform for international collaboration, knowledge exchange and strategic partnerships aimed at advancing safety and sustainability in the global ferry industry.
Speaking at the event, Adalikwu commended Interferry for its remarkable growth since its establishment in 1976 in the United States as the International Marine Transit Association. He noted that the organisation had evolved into a leading global trade association representing approximately 300 member companies and more than 2,200 individuals across over 40 countries.
He also acknowledged Interferry’s contributions to maritime safety advocacy at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), industry development and practical initiatives towards decarbonisation.
The MOWCA Secretary-General, however, expressed concern over the rising human cost of ferry accidents in West and Central Africa, revealing that more than 8,000 lives had been lost to such incidents across the sub-region in the past decade, with Nigeria, Senegal and the Democratic Republic of Congo among the most affected.
He identified overloading, poorly maintained vessels, weak regulatory enforcement, inadequate safety equipment, insufficient crew training, night operations without proper illumination and adverse weather conditions as major causes of ferry accidents.
Adalikwu said MOWCA had intensified efforts to address these challenges through regional and international partnerships, including its collaboration with the IMO and the International Maritime Rescue Federation, which resulted in a regional workshop in Libreville, Gabon, in 2024.
The workshop produced the Libreville Action Plan, which prioritises stronger regulatory frameworks, improved crew and technical training, vessel seaworthiness, safe boarding and cargo handling, enhanced navigation aids, traffic monitoring and effective search-and-rescue systems.
He further recalled that MOWCA, in partnership with Interferry and the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), co-hosted the Regional Ferry Safety Conference in Lagos in June 2025.
The conference, themed “Charting Safer Waters: Advancing Ferry Safety through Innovation, Collaboration and Integrated Transport Solutions,” attracted approximately 220 policymakers, regulators, ferry operators and other industry stakeholders.
A major outcome was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Adalikwu and Interferry Chief Executive Officer, Mike Corrigan, to establish long-term cooperation in public awareness, capacity building, regulatory improvements, infrastructure development, sustainability studies and knowledge sharing.
Building on the agreement, Interferry subsequently launched an 18-month Ferry Safety Development and Mentoring Programme in Lagos in collaboration with LASWA. The initiative, described as the first of its kind in Africa, is designed to train approximately 50 captains, marine engineers and managers through digital learning, virtual mentoring by international experts and practical training sessions.
Adalikwu noted that MOWCA would continue working with the IMO, African Union and other development partners to promote international safety standards adapted to inland and coastal waterways, modernise fleets and encourage the adoption of technologies such as Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) and weather-monitoring systems.
He stressed that improving ferry safety goes beyond saving lives, describing efficient and reliable water transportation as essential to unlocking the blue economy, facilitating trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and strengthening connectivity among coastal and landlocked member states.
The MOWCA chief added that the organisation’s participation in Interferry’s golden jubilee celebration demonstrated its determination to translate regional safety commitments and international partnerships into practical improvements across the waterways of its 25 member states.
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