By- Mahmoud Kamara
Senior Government Information Officer MoTA
London, United Kingdom — 25th November, 2025.
Sierra Leone’s Minister of Transport and Aviation, Ambassador Rtd. Col. Alhaji Fanday Turay Esq., has highlighted the country’s sweeping maritime reforms and renewed commitment to international maritime standards during the 34th Assembly of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), held from November 24 to December 3, 2025.
Addressing world leaders, maritime experts, and representatives of member states, Minister Turay conveyed warm greetings from His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio and reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s dedication to strengthening maritime governance, safety, and environmental protection.
He noted that President Bio’s vision continues to prioritize the protection of life and property at sea, as well as the preservation of the marine environment. “One life lost at sea is one too many,” Minister Turay emphasized, underscoring the urgency of building a safer maritime system for all seafarers and coastal communities.
The Minister outlined Sierra Leone’s significant potential as a Flag, Port, and Coastal State, stressing that the country’s blue economy offers vast opportunities for economic growth and sustainable development. However, he acknowledged that realizing this potential requires stronger governance structures and strategic partnerships.
To accelerate progress, Minister Turay announced four key short-term priorities:
1. Strengthening maritime legislation by domesticating ratified IMO instruments to address emerging threats and improve regulatory compliance.
2. Implementing a National Hydrographic Action Plan and upgrading coastal state services to enhance maritime search and rescue operations and reinforce maritime security.
3. Adopting the IMO Single Window Platform to streamline port procedures, reduce inefficiencies, and modernize maritime administration.
4. Executing the IMO-approved Corrective Action Plan aimed at securing Sierra Leone’s place on the STCW White List, particularly in crew training and certification standards.
Despite the advances being made, the Minister also highlighted persistent challenges within the maritime sector. He appealed for continued support from the IMO Secretary General, member states, and international partners through capacity-building initiatives and technical cooperation programmes.
Minister Turay concluded his address by expressing gratitude to the IMO leadership and member states for their ongoing collaboration and reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s commitment to contributing meaningfully to global maritime safety and environmental stewardship. He extended best wishes to the Assembly for a prosperous new year ahead.
