Morocco has 94 merchant ships and sits 72nd in the world, according to a new report by Global Firepower. The study compares African fleets and shows a big gap between countries that host ship registries and those still building their own fleets.
Merchant fleets are civilian cargo, tanker and container ships that carry trade in normal times but can be used by governments in wartime to move fuel, equipment and troops.
Across Africa, Liberia dominates by a wide margin with 4,821 ships, ranking fifth globally. Nigeria comes next with 928 ships, followed by Sierra Leone, Egypt and Tanzania. Cameroon, Algeria, South Africa and Libya complete the top ten ahead of Morocco.
The report says having a national fleet is important for economic control and supply chain security. Morocco has focused more on ports than ships. The country has invested heavily in Tanger Med and is building Nador West Med, turning itself into a major transhipment hub. Most Moroccan trade is still carried by foreign shipping giants such as Maersk and CMA CGM.
Liberia’s huge numbers come from its role as a “flag of convenience”. Many international shipowners register their vessels there because taxes and rules are lighter. It brings revenue to Liberia even though the ships rarely dock there.
The ranking also looks at how merchant ships can support military logistics. Countries like Nigeria and Egypt maintain bigger fleets partly because of security needs in the Gulf of Guinea and the Red Sea, and Egypt’s control of the Suez Canal keeps it central to global trade.
Elsewhere, greener shipping is gaining ground. Italian ferry company GNV has launched new LNG-powered vessels on routes linking Genoa, Barcelona and Tangier.
Shipping routes remain tense around the Strait of Gibraltar as Morocco and Spain compete to become the main gateway for goods heading into West Africa and the Sahel.
