The Port
The Port of Monrovia, which is considered the “Gateway to Liberia’s Economy,” is the country’s largest port. Currently, it is not operating at full capacity as there are several sunken vessels obstructing its use. Liberia’s three other ports, Buchanan, Greenville and Harper, are all incapacitated due to the civil crisis. The Government of Liberia, through the National Port Authority (NPA), is partnering with international companies and organizations to get the ports fully operational and to ensure that ships calling on ports in Liberia are secure and that their business is expedited smoothly. The World Bank and other donors have shown their commitment through the development and implementation of programs such as the Port Sector Reform Program (PSRP). Mittal Steel, the world’s largest steel company, is based in Buchanan and is partnering with the Government to make the local port operational.
The Bureau of Maritime Affairs (BMA), in its capacity as the regulating and implementing arm of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), International Labour Organization and the United Nation conventions, code and protocols supports the efforts of the NPA as follows:
- The Commissioner of the BMA is an active member on the NPA’s Board, which among other things, is working to ensure the removal of the wrecks.
- The BMA’s Port State Control Office, which is currently based at the Port of Monrovia, inspects all vessels calling on ports in Liberia’s territorial waters to ensure IMO compliance; the office also houses the Small Watercraft inspectors and the facilitation officers.
- The BMA, as the Designated Authority for the implementation of the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code), is working with the NPA and other partners to enhance the security of ships and port facilities against any possible security threats.
For more information on the ports of Liberia, please click here