The Ministry of Ports and Marine Transport announced that, for the first time since the collapse of the Somali central government in 1991, a commercial ship carrying the Somali flag has been officially registered.
This event is considered a major milestone in re-establishing the country’s maritime sovereignty. The general cargo ship named “Guney” (IMO No. 8230417) has been formally entered into the national registry, enabling Somalia to rejoin the international community as a “Flag State” with the right to register and regulate vessels.
The Minister of Ports and Marine Transport, Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur, stated that this achievement is part of the National Transformation Plan (NTP). In a statement issued by the Ministry, he noted, “This is the first time a ship carrying the Somali flag has been registered since the collapse of the state.
Our goal is to modernize the maritime sector and create opportunities for Somali businessmen and international shipowners to participate in the Blue Economy.” This registration was made possible after Somali maritime laws were aligned with international safety and environmental protection regulations.
While the government announced this success, the technical operations of the registry have been outsourced to a private entity. The registration was facilitated by “Somali Ship Register Limited,” a private company that recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry.
Reportedly led by Turkish maritime experts, this organization is responsible for building the digital infrastructure and ensuring that ships meet international standards. Minister Nur emphasized that this public-private partnership aims to leverage foreign expertise and create job opportunities for Somalis.
The activation of this registry is expected to bring several economic benefits to Somalia, including generating revenue from registration and annual tonnage fees. It also aims to create employment opportunities by allowing Somali seafarers to be hired on vessels registered under the national flag.
