Morocco is inviting private operators to manage Africa’s largest shipyard under a 30-year concession, aiming to replicate the success of its automotive industry, Bloomberg reports.
The state-run National Ports Agency (ANP) has launched a tender, seeking experienced global players to develop, equip, and operate the 52-acre facility.
According to ANP’s communications director, Abdellatif Lhouaoui, the project is designed to turn Morocco into a leading maritime hub in Africa.
This move follows two decades of strategic investments that transformed Morocco into the continent’s top car exporter, with global giants like Stellantis NV and Renault SA establishing production plants in the country.
Competitive labour costs, strong infrastructure, and political stability have played a key role in attracting investment. Last year, China’s Gotion High Tech also committed $1.3 billion to build Morocco’s first EV battery gigafactory.
Now, Morocco aims to extend this industrial momentum to the maritime sector. The new $300 million shipyard in Casablanca is equipped with a 244-meter-long dry dock, a 40-meter-wide berth, and a 9,000-ton vertical ship lift, enabling it to handle commercial, military, and fishing vessels. It is expected to absorb demand currently redirected to overcrowded European shipyards.
Previously, Morocco’s ship repair capabilities were limited to smaller facilities in Casablanca and Agadir, primarily serving the fishing industry.
The new shipyard changes that, enabling the country to maintain and repair its naval fleet domestically—crucial for reducing foreign currency outflows, especially as Morocco seeks to ease its currency peg by 2026.
Bidders for the contract may also propose a shipbuilding component, offering added value to Morocco’s long-term industrial ambitions.
