Mozambican President Daniel Chapo on Friday relaunched the country’s commercial coastal shipping services, announcing a package of fiscal incentives aimed at encouraging businesses to transport goods by sea instead of road.
The relaunch was marked by the deployment of two large cargo vessels—the “Dugongo” and the “Civitas”—acquired by private operators.
These vessels will support the regular movement of merchandise between Mozambique’s main ports.
“Coastal shipping plays a fundamental role in stimulating the economy,” said President Chapo. “It promotes greater efficiency in goods transport, reduces logistical costs, and supports the development of strategic sectors.”
To make coastal shipping more attractive, the government introduced several fiscal and operational incentives, including:
- Special registration status for coastal vessels
- A favorable customs regime
- A 50% reduction in port fees
- A 75% reduction in navigation aid fees
- Priority access for coastal vessels at ports
“We want to encourage both Mozambican and foreign businesses to invest in coastal shipping,” said Chapo, reaffirming the government’s commitment to creating a business-friendly environment for maritime trade.
One of the main objectives is to reduce the heavy load of trucks on Mozambique’s primary north-south highway (EN1), which has suffered serious damage due to excessive traffic.
Diverting freight to sea routes will not only preserve infrastructure but also ease congestion and lower the risk of road accidents.
Chapo called on the Ministry of Transport and Logistics to restore the strong maritime presence Mozambique once had.
In the 1980s, the state-owned shipping company Navique operated a fleet of 21 vessels, transporting around 220,000 tonnes of cargo annually.
The Confederation of Mozambican Business Associations (CTA) welcomed the initiative. CTA President Agostinho Vuma urged the government to go further by removing customs bottlenecks and reducing port waiting times, which currently hinder shipping efficiency.
Vuma emphasized the immediate impact of the relaunch, noting that Friday’s shipment alone involved 10,000 tonnes of cargo, equivalent to 250–300 trucks being removed from the roads.
