African Maritime Safety and Security Agency

What African Maritime Safety and Security Agency does

The African Maritime Safety and Security Agency (AMSSA) is a pan-African intergovernmental support organization established in 2010 under the African Union framework to implement the AIM Strategy 2050 and the African Maritime Transport Charter. Originally conceived at the ICHCA Canaries-Africa Regional Charter Ports conference in Accra, Ghana in December 2007 as the North West Africa Maritime Safety Agency (NWAMSA), AMSSA operates across all five African sub-regions (North, East, South, West, Central) serving 55 African Union Member States. It functions as a continental coordination platform rather than a commercial entity, providing scientific and intelligence services, policy support, and capacity building to national maritime administrations, port authorities, coastguards, and maritime training institutions.

AMSSA's core technology comprises an intelligence and coordination platform that delivers safety and security information systems, management tools, and knowledge exchange frameworks for member states. Notable technical components include Long Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) systems, surveillance platforms branded Safeseanet and Cleanseanet, maritime crisis command centre design capabilities, and standardized risk assessment methodologies. The product portfolio is anchored by two core institutional structures: the Maritime Safety and Security International Centre of Excellence (MSS-ICE), proposed for Gran Canaria to combine military, civil, academic, and industry expertise under a public-private partnership, and the African Maritime Safety and Security Institute (AMSSI), focused on R&D and knowledge exchange. Supporting service modules span Science and Technology, Academic and Operational Capacity Building, Marine Environmental Protection, European Cooperation, Maritime Human Resource Development, and Maritime Security Services.

The business model is institutional rather than commercial. AMSSA derives its operating resources from intergovernmental support, member state contributions, donor partnerships, and project-based cooperation arrangements, with services delivered free at point of use. Go-to-market is community-led, conducted through African Union institutional frameworks, strategic partnerships with the IMO, MOWCA, and the European Union, workshops, conferences, training programs, and capacity-building initiatives. Revenue mechanics depend on grant funding, EU Africa Joint Strategy Sub-Programme allocations, and partnership arrangements with organizations including DSI Holding and ENKUR (for MSS-ICE development), the Spanish Maritime Cluster, and individual African governments such as Morocco and Cote d'Ivoire. There is no commercial pricing or fee-for-service component in the current operating model.

Name

African Maritime Safety and Security Agency

Legal name

African Maritime Safety and Security Agency

Website

https://amssa.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

AMSSA is a pan-African intergovernmental organization that coordinates maritime safety, security, and marine environmental protection across 55 African Union member states, implementing the AIM Strategy 2050 through intelligence platforms, training, and capacity building programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Safety and Security Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

SIC

Foreign Governments (8888), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

Maritime Safety Management Systems & Training (ISM/ISO 45001, Drills, Competency) (TLAHANAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ship & Port Security Audits, Inspections & Certification (Flag/Class/PSC Support) (TLAHANAD), Maritime Safety, Security & Compliance (STCW/ISM/ISPS) (EDAOANAD), Infrastructure, Transport & Telecommunications IGOs (BPADAAAM)

Keywords

• Maritime safety coordination
• Maritime security services
• Marine environmental protection
• Maritime capacity building
• Maritime policy support

Headquarters

HQ city

Newquay

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Intergovernmental Support and Capacity Building: AMSSA operates as a coordination and support agency for African Union member states, providing services through intergovernmental frameworks, donor partnerships, and collaborative funding arrangements. Revenue appears to be derived from institutional funding, donor support, and partnership arrangements rather than commercial sales.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

AMSSA is a pan-African intergovernmental support agency that coordinates maritime safety, security, and marine environmental protection across African Union member states. It provides scientific and intelligence services, harmonized training and certification, capacity-building programs, risk assessment methodologies, and technical cooperation to maritime administrations, ports authorities, and maritime stakeholders throughout Africa.

Product overview

AMSSA is a pan-African intergovernmental organization implementing the African Union AIM Strategy 2050. Its portfolio consists of MSS-ICE (Maritime Safety and Security International Centre of Excellence) and AMSSI (African Maritime Safety & Security Institute) as the core institutional structures, supported by five integrated action areas: Science and Technology, Academic Capacity Building, Operational Capacity Building, Marine Environmental Protection, and European Cooperation. The organization also offers specialized services including Maritime Human Resource Development, Maritime Security Services, Marine Environmental Protection Services, and Risk Prevention platforms. All components work together to provide a scientific and intelligence platform for safe, secure, and clean maritime transport across Africa.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MSS-ICE (Maritime Safety and Security International Centre of Excellence) A proposed international centre of excellence on Gran Canaria combining military, civil, academic and maritime private industry expertise for maritime safety, security research, education and training through a public-private partnership framework.
• AMSSI (African Maritime Safety & Security Institute) An institute bringing together researchers and industry professionals active in African-based safety and security R&D to accelerate knowledge exchange across African maritime governance, environmental security, human resource development, and ports and logistics.
• Maritime Human Resource Development Services Training courses covering maritime services, maritime management systems, maritime legal systems, air operations, vessel operations, and maritime law enforcement for African maritime administrations and operators.
• Maritime Security Services Programs focused on peace and security, piracy prevention, transnational organized crime, and resource security including Economic Exclusive Zones, fisheries, offshore energy, and illegal dumping.
• Marine Environmental Protection Services Addresses habitat destruction, overfishing, pollution from sewage and chemicals, eutrophication, and climate change impacts on marine ecosystems; develops contingency plans for maritime transport-related spills.

Quantifiable outcome

• Contributing to implementation of African Integrated Maritime Strategy (AIM Strategy 2050)
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Cote d'Ivoire (CDI) GovernmentminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 August 2010In-depth discussions held with Lt-Col. Bertin K. Tano and Senior Official Representatives of the CDI Government, Military and the Coastguard to advance maritime safety and security cooperation.
• DSI Holding & ENKURcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 February 2010DSI Holding and ENKUR signed a Memorandum of Understanding to provide operational capacity for AMSSA and to develop a long-term plan for implementing the Maritime Safety and Security International Centre of Excellence (MSS-ICE) on the Island of Gran Canaria. The partnership aims to create a centre that brings together world experts in maritime safety, security and clean maritime transport within a public-private partnership framework, combining military, civil, academic and maritime industry expertise.
• Spanish Maritime Cluster (PLOCAN, SEPCAN)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 February 2010High-level economic development meetings held with Spanish Maritime Cluster representatives including PLOCAN (Prof Joaquin Brito) and SEPCAN (Mr Roberto Hernandez Dominguez) to establish sustainable maritime economic development opportunities for African Member States stakeholders.
• International Maritime Organization (IMO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe IMO is a specialized UN agency with 167 Member States that develops and maintains comprehensive regulatory framework for shipping including safety, environmental concerns, maritime security, and technical cooperation. The partnership supports developing countries in complying with international rules and standards, with particular emphasis on Africa. IMO's technical cooperation programme focuses on human resources development and institutional capacity-building.
• MOWCA (Maritime Organisation for West and Central Africa)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOWCA unifies 25 countries on the West and Central African shipping range, serving regional and international community for handling maritime matters. The organization focuses on coastal shipping networks, port development, maritime safety and environmental protection, and implementation of international conventions (SOLAS, MARPOL, ISM Code, STCW). AMSSA aims to complement and build upon existing MOWCA activities.
• Morocco GovernmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMorocco is included in AMSSA development despite being outside African Union membership. The government is vital for sustainable development of NWAMSA (AMSSA) given Morocco's strategic location in North Africa. Partnership aims to ensure full participation during conceptualization and development stages, with alignment to Morocco's objectives of continental integration, peace, security, sustainable development, and international cooperation.
• African Union CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAMSSA is designed to respond directly to the Africa-EU Joint Strategy and implement the African Integrated Maritime Strategy (AIM Strategy 2050). The organization works with AU Commissioner for Energy and Infrastructure and supports the implementation of the African Maritime Transport Charter and associated resolutions from the 2nd AU Conference of Ministers Responsible for Maritime Transport in Durban, October 2009.
• European UnioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAMSSA implements the Africa-EU Joint Strategy Sub-Programme focused on Maritime Safety, Security and Marine Environmental Protection. Partnership is based on Euro-African consensus on values, common interests and strategic objectives, guided by principles of unity, interdependence, ownership, joint responsibility, and respect for human rights and rule of law.
• ICHCA (International Cargo Handling Coordination Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe development of AMSSA was first deliberated during the 3rd ICHCA Canaries-Africa Regional Charter Ports conference in December 2007 in Accra, Ghana. ICHCA continues as a strategic partner supporting African port logistics, trade, and maritime economy development.
• ICC (International Chamber of Commerce)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a strategic partner organization on the AMSSA website, providing support for international commerce and trade facilitation frameworks relevant to maritime safety and security.
• ECRAALminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a strategic partner organization supporting AMSSA's mission for maritime safety and security capacity building in Africa.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• International Maritime Organization (IMO): The IMO is the UN specialized agency that develops the global regulatory framework for maritime safety, security, and environmental protection; AMSSA is a strategic implementation partner for IMO conventions across Africa and operates in the same standards-and-capacity-building domain.
• European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA): EMSA is the EU's regional maritime safety and security agency, providing the closest functional equivalent to AMSSA at the European level; both act as coordinating bodies delivering technical assistance, surveillance, and capacity building to member state administrations, with comparable regulatory and training remits.
• Maritime Organisation for West and Central Africa (MOWCA): MOWCA unifies 25 West and Central African states on maritime transport, safety, and environmental protection, overlapping AMSSA's regional mandate and acting as both a partner and potential competitor for member state engagement.
• ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre: ReCAAP ISC is a regional intergovernmental centre for combating piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia; it shares AMSSA's mandate of information sharing, capacity building, and coordinated maritime security response at a regional level.
• International Mobile Satellite Organization (IMSO): IMSO oversees satellite-based maritime safety and distress communication systems (LRIT, GMDSS); AMSSA develops LRIT and surveillance platforms and works with IMSO on maritime communications standards.
• International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA): IALA is the intergovernmental association that develops standards and provides capacity building for marine aids to navigation and related maritime safety infrastructure, paralleling AMSSA's standardization and training functions.

Broad incumbents

• International Association of Classification Societies (IACS): IACS is the global association of ship classification societies setting technical standards for ship design, construction, and maintenance; it overlaps AMSSA's mandate on maritime safety standards and certification across global shipping.
• INTERPOL: INTERPOL operates global law enforcement coordination including maritime crime programmes addressing piracy and transnational organized crime, complementing AMSSA's maritime security coordination across African jurisdictions.

Others

• UNODC Maritime Crime Programme: UNODC implements capacity building and counter-piracy programmes in African maritime regions (Gulf of Guinea, Horn of Africa), operating as an adjacent enabling partner that complements AMSSA's mandate but is not a direct competitor.

Regional players

• Indian Ocean Commission: The Indian Ocean Commission is a regional intergovernmental organization of Indian Ocean island states covering maritime security, sustainable development, and cooperation; it has a related but geographically distinct mandate compared to AMSSA's continental African scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/AfricanMarSec
• Facebookfacebook.com/AMSSAforAFRICA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/african-maritime-safety-and-security-agency

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about African Maritime Safety and Security Agency