Regional Dialogue on Maritime Decarbonization at the 11th Our Ocean Conference

MTCC Africa Advances Regional Dialogue on Maritime Decarbonization at the 11th Our Ocean Conference

Mombasa, Kenya | 18 June 2026

The Maritime Technology Cooperation Centre for Africa (MTCC Africa), in collaboration with the State Department for Shipping and Maritime Affairs, successfully convened a high-level side event during the 11th Our Ocean Conference (OOC11) under the theme:

“Accelerating Africa’s Maritime Green Transition: Institutionalizing Decarbonization, Ocean Finance and Regional Cooperation.”

Held at the PrideInn Paradise Beach Resort in Mombasa, the side event brought together senior government officials, maritime administrations, development partners, international organizations, financial institutions, academia, private sector representatives and industry leaders to explore practical pathways for advancing maritime decarbonization and sustainable shipping across Africa.

The dialogue was convened against the backdrop of increasing global momentum towards maritime decarbonization and the growing need for African countries to strengthen institutional frameworks, mobilize climate and ocean finance, promote technology transfer, and foster regional cooperation to support a just and inclusive transition to low-carbon maritime transport. The discussions recognized Africa’s vast maritime potential while acknowledging the need for greater investment, innovation and collaboration to unlock sustainable growth across the continent.

A central focus of the session was the role of the Regional Industry Alliance for Africa (RIA-Africa) as a platform for accelerating regional cooperation between governments, industry, development partners and financial institutions. Participants explored opportunities to strengthen partnerships capable of translating policy ambitions into tangible investments and implementation, while positioning Africa as an active contributor to global maritime decarbonization efforts.

Structured as a high-level roundtable dialogue, the programme featured opening remarks from senior government representatives, global perspectives on maritime decarbonization, and an interactive discussion chaired by the Chair of the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC). Discussions examined institutional arrangements needed to accelerate maritime decarbonization, mechanisms for expanding access to climate and ocean finance, opportunities for technology transfer and innovation, and strategies for developing investment-ready projects capable of supporting Africa’s green maritime transition.
Throughout the discussions, participants emphasized that achieving a sustainable maritime future will require stronger collaboration across governments, regional organizations, academia, industry and development partners. The dialogue reinforced the importance of aligning policy, finance, innovation and institutional capacity to accelerate the implementation of environmentally sustainable maritime solutions while supporting economic development, trade competitiveness and resilient blue economies across the continent.

The side event also reaffirmed MTCC Africa’s commitment to supporting African countries in strengthening institutional capacities, promoting technology cooperation, facilitating regional partnerships and advancing practical solutions that contribute to the implementation of the International Maritime Organization’s decarbonization objectives and broader sustainable development goals.

As discussions during the 11th Our Ocean Conference demonstrated, Africa is increasingly shaping the global conversation on sustainable maritime transport. Through continued regional cooperation, strengthened partnerships and innovative financing mechanisms, the continent is well positioned to play a leading role in advancing a resilient, low-carbon and environmentally sustainable maritime sector.

MTCC Africa expresses its sincere appreciation to the State Department for Shipping and Maritime Affairs, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), distinguished speakers, panelists and all participants whose valuable contributions made the dialogue a success. The Centre looks forward to building on the outcomes of the discussions through continued collaboration with governments, industry, academia and development partners across Africa.