Ahorlu Marine Limited signs MoU for the dev’t of  AFROPAX Project

Ahorlu Marine Limited, a leading boutique maritime advisory and project development company, has successfully signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Presidential Special Initiatives for the development of a coastal ferry service project.

The project, nicknamed AFROPAX, entails the development of a ferry service along the West African coast, connecting the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor by sea with Ghana’s two ports and deploying dual-purpose vessels that are designed to carry both rolling cargo (vehicles such as cars, trucks, and buses) and passengers.

It involves, among others, the construction of specialised passenger and vehicle terminals in selected ports along the corridor, the procurement, management and operation of an initial two low-emission roll-on-passenger (ROPAX) vessels, and the deployment of a purpose-built digital management system to manage the service.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, the  Minister of Presidential Special Initiatives at the Office of the President, Mr. Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum said “this project aligns with the government’s plans to boost coastal water transport and when operational, the project will be a game changer, easing pressure on road transport along this very busy corridor and bringing relief to travelers.”

On his part, Mr. Stanley Ahorlu, the Managing Director of Ahorlu Marine Limited stated that the project would “provide foundational infrastructure upon which Ghana can build a thriving sustainable indigenous maritime transport sector”.

He added that AFROPAX would boost intra-African trade by providing a timely, cost-efficient, and convenient means of transport for small and medium sized traders, particularly women-owned businesses to trade across borders, while travelling with their goods.

The MOU details the commitment of the parties towards developing the project. Ahorlu Marine is leading in the development of this project, riding on the successes of Project Shiprite, a $137m maritime infrastructure project successfully developed by related company, Prime Meridian Docks Ghana Limited.

The Ministry, on the other hand, is responsible for facilitating the development of the project.

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