Reform of maritime navigation in the DRC: a new system to control ships
The Minister of Transport, Communication Channels and Accessibility, Marc Ekila, announced the establishment of a new system for the control of ships in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This reform will allow the DRC to participate in sub-regional initiatives relating to the control of ships by the State, of the Port by the maritime administrations of West and Central Africa.
In this sense, the DRC has accepted the “MOU-ABUJA”, the memorandum of understanding on the control of ships by the State of the port. This acceptance was signed by the Congolese side on May 29 and will put an end to the function of “Maritime Commissioner” which has become obsolete in all the maritime industries of the world in view of its limited power. It will make it possible to move on to the establishment of a new body of trades called “Vessel Inspectors” which has greater power.
Furthermore, this reform will have the merit of leading to an update of the Maritime, River and Lake Navigation Code, which has become obsolete since 1966. The Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the first countries to have accepted the Sub-Regional Guard Network -Coasts, an initiative endorsed more than ten years ago by member states of the Maritime Organization of West and Central African States (MOWCA).
This reform bears witness to the political will of the DRC government and will enable this country to play a more active role in the field of maritime navigation in West and Central Africa. This decision also illustrates the DRC’s commitment to invest in modern systems to better control maritime traffic in its territorial waters.