MOWCA - MARITIME ORGANIZATION OF WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICA

What MOWCA - MARITIME ORGANIZATION OF WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICA does

MOWCA (Maritime Organization of West and Central Africa / Organisation Maritime de l'Afrique de l'Ouest et du Centre) is an intergovernmental organization established on May 7, 1975, in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, at the initiative of Félix Houphouët-Boigny. It coordinates regional maritime policy across 25 member states — 20 coastal and 5 landlocked countries spanning West and Central Africa. The organization is governed by a General Assembly of Transport Ministers, a Bureau of Ministers, and a Committee of Experts, with a permanent secretariat of approximately 31 staff headquartered in Abidjan. Under Secretary General Dr. Paul Adalikwu (in office since December 2021, re-elected February 2026), MOWCA has pursued a post-stagnation renewal agenda.

The organization's portfolio comprises coordination platforms, training institutions, and policy programs rather than commercial products. Core technology platforms include CINFOCOM (real-time maritime security information sharing and port state control coordination), SIAM (cargo and multimodal transport information system), the Regional Maritime Single Window (digital port processes), and S-100/ECDIS integration for hydrographic standardization (in partnership with IHO). Specialized bodies include AGPAOC (port management association), UCCA (shipper councils), ACNMA (national shipping companies), and cabotage operators ECOMARINE and SATOMAR. Training is delivered through three regional academies: Regional Maritime University (RMU) Accra, ARSTM Abidjan, and Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) Oron. Forward initiatives include a proposed Regional Maritime Development Bank (BMRD), Regional Transport Observatory, Integrated Sub-Regional Coast Guard Network, Regional Maritime Code, and Regional Maritime Fund.

MOWCA does not operate a commercial revenue model. It is funded through assessed contributions from its 25 member states, supplemented by international donor and partner grants from entities including the IMO, EU, World Bank, African Development Bank, Indonesia ($1.3M capacity-building grant, October 2025), and Singapore MPA. The organization is currently executing a transformation toward a continental African Maritime Organization (AMO) to unify Africa's maritime voice at the IMO, and celebrated its 50th anniversary alongside its 19th General Assembly in Banjul, Gambia, in February 2026.

Name

MOWCA - MARITIME ORGANIZATION OF WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICA

Legal name

Organisation Maritime de l'Afrique de l'Ouest et du Centre (OMAOC)

Website

https://omaoc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

MOWCA is the intergovernmental organization coordinating maritime policy across 25 West and Central African member states. From its Abidjan headquarters, it delivers policy harmonization, port state control coordination, regional maritime training academies, and blue economy development programs funded by member contributions and international partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Governance and Policy Coordination

NAICS

Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883), Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (92615), Port and Harbor Operations (488310)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Maritime Single Window & Regulatory Reporting Systems (TLAHAOAB), Maritime Safety, Security & Compliance (STCW/ISM/ISPS) (EDAOANAD), Conformity Assessment, Testing, Inspection & Certification Cooperation (BPADANAD), Classification Society & Flag-State Liaison / Plan Approval Support (IMAJAGAN)

Keywords

• Maritime policy coordination
• Regional port management
• Seafarer training programs
• Maritime security cooperation
• Blue economy development

Headquarters

HQ city

Abidjan

HQ country

Côte d’Ivoire

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

MOWCA is an intergovernmental organization that coordinates maritime policy, safety, security, training, and blue economy development across 25 West and Central African member states. It delivers regional programs through specialized bodies and academies covering maritime information sharing (CINFOCOM), cargo tracking (SIAM), port state control, shipper dialogue, cabotage shipping, seafarer training, and maritime financing mechanisms.

Product overview

MOWCA is an intergovernmental maritime organization (Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa / Organisation Maritime d'Afrique de l'Ouest et du Centre) that coordinates regional maritime policy across 25 member states. Rather than offering a unified commercial product platform, MOWCA operates a portfolio of interconnected programs and specialized bodies including maritime academies (Regional Maritime University in Accra, ARSTM in Abidjan, Maritime Academy of Nigeria in Oron), port management cooperation (AGPAOC), shipper councils (UCCA), maritime carrier associations, cabotage companies (ECOMARINE, SATOMAR), an information centre (CINFOCOM), and proposed financial instruments (Regional Maritime Development Bank, Regional Maritime Fund). The organization also pursues initiatives including a Regional Transport Observatory, Integrated Coast Guard Network, and Regional Maritime Code to promote maritime safety, trade facilitation, and blue economy development across West and Central Africa.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CINFOCOM (Centre d'Information et de Communication) Information and communication centre that ensures effective information flow across the sub-region and supports coordinated ship inspection and port state control activities in member state ports.
• Regional Maritime University (RMU) Accra Quality training institution providing higher education and professional certification for cadres and professionals in the maritime and port sector across the MOWCA space.
• Académie Régionale des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer (ARSTM) Abidjan Regional academy based in Abidjan providing maritime sciences and technology education, training, and research, including planned hydrographic training under IHO partnership.
• Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) Oron Nigerian maritime academy delivering seafarer training and certification aligned with STCW and regional harmonization efforts.
• Association de Gestion Portuaire d'Afrique de l'Ouest et du Centre (AGPAOC) Port management association promoting cooperation between ports to improve port efficiency across West and Central Africa, based in Lagos.
• Union des Conseils des Chargeurs Africains (UCCA) Dialogue platform between shippers and maritime carriers for freight rate stabilization and improvement of maritime transport service quality, based in Douala.
• Association des Compagnies Maritimes (ACNMA) Association promoting maritime shipping companies owned by nationals of the sub-region, based in Cotonou.
• ECOMARINE and SATOMAR Cabotage Companies Cabotage service companies providing profitable coastal shipping services while supporting intra-African trade and creating maritime jobs in West and Central Africa.

Quantifiable outcome

• Achieved near-zero piracy incidents in Gulf of Guinea through Yaoundé Architecture implementation and CINFOCOM coordination
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Republic of The GambiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 February 2026Gambia assumed presidency of MOWCA at the 19th General Assembly (February 2026) in Banjul. Ebrima Sillah, Minister of Transport, Works and Infrastructure serves as President. Gambia also leads the Committee of Experts (2026-2028) through Counsel Olimatou Danso Malang, Director General of Gambia Maritime Administration.
• Republic of SenegalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 February 2026Senegal serves as 1st Vice-President of MOWCA Bureau of Ministers. Engaged in maritime port infrastructure development, fisheries, and regional ferry safety initiatives.
• Republic of Equatorial GuineacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 February 2026Equatorial Guinea serves as 2nd Vice-President. MOWCA SG conducted strategic engagement with Minister Evito Oma on maritime safety, security, and blue economy development in the Gulf of Guinea.
• Republic of CongocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 February 2026H.E. Ingrid Ebouka-Babackas, Minister of Transport and Merchant Marine, serves as MOWCA Chairperson. Congo hosts Bureau of Ministers 11th Session (November 2025) in Brazzaville.
• Maritime and Ports Authority of Singapore (MPA)coreTechnology or Integration · 30 October 2025MOWCA SG engaged Singapore MPA on port modernization, capacity building, and green shipping. Discussions on technical collaboration in human capital development, infrastructure upgrade, cargo handling, and maritime single window digitization. MoU signing planned in London for formal technical cooperation.
• Government of IndonesiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 October 2025$1.3 million Partnership Grant Agreement for maritime capacity development. Indonesia's Ministry of Transportation sponsored Training of Trainers (IMO Model Course 6.09) and Training for Assessment, Examination and Certification (IMO Model Course 3.12) for 96 seafarers from 16 member states. Training conducted at STIP and BP3IP institutions in Jakarta (October 2025).
• Blue Africa Conference & Exhibition (BACE)majorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 September 2025Five-year strategic partnership signed in Abidjan for unlocking Africa's maritime gateway, driving youth employment and entrepreneurship, building blue economy future and leadership excellence in maritime development.
• InterferrymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2025Co-hosted Lagos Ferry Safety Conference (June 2025) with LASWA under FERRYSAFE project. Partnership for ferry safety enhancement, standards development, and industry collaboration across West and Central Africa.
• International Hydrographic Organization (IHO)coreTechnology or Integration · 17 January 2025Partnership for hydrographic standards promotion. Plans for Center of Excellence for hydrographic training at ARSTM Abidjan. Working toward S-100 framework adoption for ECDIS integration and Electronic Navigational Charts standardization across member states.
• Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2024MoU on cooperation and information sharing for meteorological services supporting maritime safety. Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) provides forecasts for route optimization, safety enhancements, port operations, cargo management, fuel efficiency, and disaster preparedness. Supports ferry safety and inland waterway transport.
• European UnionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational cooperation partner supporting MOWCA's maritime development programs through funding and technical assistance.
• International Maritime Organization (IMO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeep technical cooperation on maritime safety, security, and environmental protection. 11 regional projects implemented. IMO established coordination offices in Abidjan and Accra (1998). MoU signed on professional training, safety, and sustainable maritime development. MOWCA supports member state candidacies for IMO Council.
• African Union (AU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPromotes African Maritime Charter implementation and continental maritime governance alignment. MOWCA advancing transformation into African Maritime Organisation (AMO) to unify continental maritime voice.
• UNCTADmajorTechnology or IntegrationCooperation on ASYCUDA customs computerization, multimodal transport networks, and trade facilitation systems.
• ECOWAS / Economic Commission for AfricamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPromotes cabotage and port investment development. Implements Almaty Programme of Action for landlocked developing countries transit transport.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Association of African Maritime Administrations (AAMA): Continental platform for African maritime leadership dialogue. Overlaps with MOWCA on policy coordination, capacity building, and member state engagement — a peer forum for national maritime administrators.
• Abuja MoU on Port State Control: Regional port state control memorandum covering West and Central African waters — coordinated and supported by MOWCA. Operates in the same regulatory niche (ship inspection, compliance) across the same geography.
• ECOWAS Commission - Transport Directorate: Sub-regional economic community promoting cabotage, port investment, and transport corridor development in West Africa. Overlapping mandate with MOWCA on West African maritime affairs and a key coordination partner.
• African Union Commission - Infrastructure & Energy Department: Continental body advancing the African Maritime Charter and broader transport integration. Directly competes/coordinates with MOWCA on regional maritime policy mandates across Africa.

Broad incumbents

• European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA): EU agency providing technical and scientific support to maritime safety and security policy. Explicitly cited as the institutional model for MOWCA's transformation into the African Maritime Organisation (AMO).
• International Maritime Organization (IMO): The UN specialized agency for global maritime safety, security, and environmental performance. MOWCA partners directly with IMO through MoUs and technical cooperation programs and aspires to be Africa's IMO-amplifying voice.
• International Hydrographic Organization (IHO): Intergovernmental body setting hydrographic standards (including the S-100 framework MOWCA is adopting). Partner for hydrographic capacity building and ECDIS standardization across MOWCA member states.
• Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control: The original and most established regional port state control MoU covering European and Atlantic waters. Reference model for newer MoUs including the Abuja MoU that MOWCA coordinates.

Regional players

• Caribbean Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control: Port state control MoU for Caribbean waters — structurally similar regional maritime governance arrangement in a different geography, useful peer for harmonized training and inspection coordination.
• Indian Ocean Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control: Regional port state control MoU covering Indian Ocean states — a structurally similar arrangement in a different geography. Useful peer for governance, inspection coordination, and reporting models.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/omaoc_mowca
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@omaocofficiel
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/omaocmowca1975

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about MOWCA - MARITIME ORGANIZATION OF WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICA