News

The Sierra Leone Ports and Harbours Authority (SLPHA) participated in Sierra Leone’s delegation at the 34th Session of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Assembly held in London between 24th – 28th November 2025.

The delegation was led by the Hon. Alhaji Fanday Turay, Minister of Transport and Aviation, and included the Director General Yankuba Bio, the Company Secretary Martin M. George, Esq and the Harbour Master Alpha Y. Bangura respectively.

The Minister, on behalf of the Government and People of Sierra Leone, delivered a national statement which among other things reaffirmed President Julius Maada Bio’s commitment to enhancing maritime governance in Sierra Leone. He emphasized that ensuring the safety of life and property at sea, along with protecting the marine environment, remains a paramount priority for the Ministry.

He highlighted the significant potential of Sierra Leone’s blue economy, underscoring the government’s ongoing support for the IMO and development partners in unlocking opportunities within the maritime sector. The Minister conveyed a renewed sense of responsibility within his Ministry to ensure safe navigation, environmental protection, and the sustainable utilization of the nation’s marine resources.

Minister Turay outlined four immediate priority actions:

1. Strengthening Sierra Leone’s maritime legislative framework by domestically implementing ratified IMO regulatory instruments to address emerging threats.

2. ⁠Executing a national hydrographic action plan and enhancing coastal state service delivery to improve maritime search and rescue capabilities and maritime security governance.

3. Rapid adoption of the IMO single window platform to reduce inefficiencies and streamline administrative procedures.

4. ⁠Full implementation of the IMO approved corrective action plan resulting from the IMO member state audit scheme, with a strong emphasis on achieving white list status under the STCW Convention for crew training and certification.

The Minister acknowledged the ongoing challenges Sierra Leone faces in its pursuit of greater maritime compliance. He stressed the necessity of sustained support from the IMO Secretariat and member states, particularly regarding safety, security governance, and marine environmental protection through capacity building initiatives.

In conclusion, he expressed appreciation to the IMO Secretary General, his team, member states, and partner organizations for their continued support to Sierra Leone, and he voiced hope for even greater collaboration under the IMO’s technical cooperation programmes.

During the Assembly, elections were conducted for the three membership categories: A, B and C. Liberia was elected to category A, while Nigeria, Egypt, Morocco, and South Africa secured seats in category C. SLPHA’s Director General Yankuba Askia Bio cast Sierra Leone’s vote during elections for Category B.

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