MOZAMBIQUE Trends and Developments Contributed by: José Miguel Oliveira, Kenny Laisse and Caio de Mello Ferreira, VdA
Maritime cabotage services were also strengthened in 2025 with the relaunch of coastal shipping, including the commissioning of new vessels intended to provide regular cargo transport between Mozambique’s main ports, such as Maputo, Beira and Nacala, enhancing inter-port connectivity. Additionally, the ports of Pemba and Palma, located further north in Mozambique, are projected to become crucial servicing and logistics ports for the oil and gas industry. The Government of Mozambique has approved substantial investment and concession arrangements for the Port of Pemba and Logistics Terminal, including infrastructure upgrades such as new quays and floating docks, aimed at enhancing the port’s capacity to support hydrocarbon explora - tion and production operations in Cabo Delgado and the wider Rovuma Basin. The development of these ports aligns with Mozambique’s ambitions to become a significant player in the global gas market and attract foreign investment to the sector. Legislative Developments In 2022, acknowledging the significance that its maritime ports may have as a result of the above- mentioned facts, Mozambique approved the Maritime Courts Law (Law No 10/2022), which provides for the institution of specialised maritime courts with specific know-how on matters relating to shipping contracts, maritime liens, maritime claims and arrest of ships. At the moment, the Maritime Courts of Maputo City and Sofala and Nampula Provinces are fully opera - tional, in a clear sign of the government’s commit - ment to ensuring adequate responses to the spe - cificities of the shipping sector. In March 2025, the Supreme Court extended the jurisdictional areas of (i) the Maritime Court of Maputo City, encompassing the provinces of Maputo, Gaza and Inhambane; and (ii) the Maritime Court of Nampula, encompassing the provinces of Cabo Delgado, Niassa and Zambézia. This extensive jurisdictional competence is applicable until all the aforementioned provinces inaugurate the respective maritime courts. In 2024, as a clear sign of its commitment to mari - time sector legislation, the government approved the Regulations for the Exercise of Ship Agency Activity, Cargo and Complementary Services through Decree
No 40/2024 of 12 June 2024. Also in the same year, with an impact on the maritime defence sector, a Mar - itime Defence Co-operation Agreement was signed between the Government of the Republic of Mozam - bique and the Government of the French Republic. A Cabotage Maritime Transport Regulation is expect - ed to be approved in the near future. The private sec - tor, through the Confederation of Economic Associa - tions of Mozambique (CTA) recently issued an opinion on its proposal. The government also approved Decree No 75/2024 of 17 October 2024, which approves the terms of con - cession of the Port and Logistics Terminal of Pemba in Cabo Delgado Province, granting a 20-year con - cession to Pemba Bulk Terminal, Limitada (PBT) for the development, financing, construction, operation and maintenance of the port infrastructure. This legal framework is expected to catalyse logistical support for offshore energy projects and regional maritime trade. Training In June 2023, the staff of the Ministry of Transport and Communications were trained by the Internation - al Maritime Organization’s (IMO’s) Maritime Security team on the transposition of IMO instruments relat - ed to maritime security into national legislation. The workshop aimed to provide support on how to trans - late measures within the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 (SOLAS) Chapter XI-2 and the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (“ISPS Code”) into Mozambique’s national mari - time security legislation. It should be noted that this was the first workshop held in Mozambique under the IMO’s Port Security Project, which is funded by the EU. Building on this initial capacity-building effort, further training and technical assistance activities were car - ried out in 2025. In September 2025, Mozambique hosted a follow-up legal review workshop supported by the IMO, aimed at strengthening the domestic transposition of maritime security instruments, includ - ing SOLAS Chapter XI-2 and the ISPS Code, with par - ticipation from multiple ministries, maritime authorities and enforcement agencies.
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