11th Our Ocean Conference: Can Kenya Lead Africa's Shipping Transition?

As the global shipping industry races toward a low-carbon future, Kenya is positioning itself as a potential regional leader in green maritime transport, with ambitions to become a hub for renewable maritime fuels, sustainable ports and future-ready shipping services.

The vision emerged during a World Bank-hosted discussion on unlocking maritime transport investments for the Blue Economy, at the 11th Our Ocean Conference, where policymakers, industry leaders and development partners explored how Africa can capture opportunities arising from the global transition to cleaner shipping.

Maritime transport remains the backbone of international trade, carrying more than 80 percent of global goods. For Africa, where ports serve as critical gateways for commerce, food security and economic development, investments in cleaner and more efficient shipping could have far-reaching implications.

Speaking during the discussion, Michael Mbaru, Deputy Director for Marine Environment Protection at the Kenya Maritime Authority and Kenya’s Special Envoy for Green Shipping and Shipping Decarbonization, said the country is developing a National Action Plan aimed at reducing emissions from both domestic and international shipping while creating new economic opportunities.

“We are structuring it as a platform for projects, regional leadership and an investment-oriented National Action Plan,” he said.

The strategy seeks to modernize Kenya’s domestic fleet through energy efficiency improvements, retrofitting of existing vessels and the adoption of alternative fuels and emerging technologies. It also envisions the ports of Mombasa and Lamu becoming regional hubs for the bunkering of renewable and low-carbon marine fuels.

According to Mbaru, Kenya has already begun engaging a wide range of stakeholders, including energy producers, shipping companies, financial institutions and government agencies, to explore the establishment of green shipping corridors that could accelerate the adoption of cleaner maritime transport solutions.

The country’s ambitions align with a broader global effort to decarbonize shipping, a sector responsible for approximately three percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. While shipping remains one of the most energy-efficient modes of transport, pressure is mounting for the industry to transition away from conventional fossil fuels toward cleaner alternatives such as green hydrogen, ammonia and methanol.

For Kenya, the transition presents both environmental and economic opportunities.

Anna Larsson, Vice President for Communications at the World Shipping Council, noted that Kenya’s renewable energy profile places it in a strong position to participate in the emerging market for renewable maritime fuels.

“Kenya has 92 percent renewable energy, which is like the perfect condition for starting to invest in renewable maritime fuels,” she said.

Larsson argued that countries capable of producing and supplying renewable fuels could attract additional maritime traffic, investment and employment opportunities, much as traditional bunkering hubs such as Singapore have done for decades.

The shipping industry, she noted, is already investing heavily in the transition. Around 78 percent of newly ordered container and vehicle carrier vessels are capable of operating on alternative fuels, while billions of dollars have already been committed to dual-fuel fleets designed to support future decarbonization efforts.

Yet despite growing momentum, significant barriers remain.

A recurring theme throughout the discussion was the challenge of unlocking investment at scale. While many governments and private developers are preparing projects linked to renewable fuels and green shipping infrastructure, uncertainty around future demand continues to slow implementation.

“The producers are ready to supply these fuels,” Mbaru said. “But where are the off-takers? Where is the demand?“

Industry representatives emphasized that clearer international regulatory signals and stronger market incentives are needed to encourage large-scale investment in fuel production, port infrastructure and vessel deployment.

Mark Major, Senior Strategy Director at the Climate Centre of the CUNA Foundation, argued that logistics systems should be viewed not merely as transport infrastructure but as catalysts for sustainable development.

“We actually see that these systems are like the levers for the development and sustainable development of different regions,” he said.

According to Major, investments in maritime transport can generate multiple benefits beyond emissions reductions, including job creation, improved air quality, enhanced trade competitiveness, lower transport costs and stronger integration into the global economy.

For African countries, he suggested, the transition offers a chance to build new industries around renewable energy production and green fuels rather than remaining dependent on imported fossil fuels.

The discussion also highlighted the role of public policy in creating conditions for investment.

Christina Chan, Program Manager for Shipping at the World Bank’s ProBlue programme, explained that governments often require technical support and policy frameworks before investment opportunities become bankable.

“To make a really bankable investment, it actually needs to be implementation-ready,” she said.

ProBlue has supported countries such as South Africa, Morocco and Colombia in evaluating alternative fuel opportunities and developing strategies to attract private sector investment. Similar support could help African nations identify practical pathways toward cleaner maritime transport while reducing investment risks.

For Kenya, the transition could also create new employment opportunities.

As vessels adopt alternative fuels and advanced technologies, new skills will be required across the maritime workforce. Mbaru noted that preparing Kenyan seafarers for these changes is a key component of the National Action Plan.

The transition, he said, offers an opportunity to equip a new generation of maritime professionals with the skills needed to work aboard the ships of the future.

Ultimately, the conversation underscored that maritime decarbonization is no longer solely an environmental issue. It is increasingly being viewed as an economic development agenda capable of unlocking investment, strengthening trade networks and creating new industries across Africa.

As global shipping charts its course toward net-zero emissions, countries that move early to build the necessary infrastructure, policies and skills could find themselves at the centre of a rapidly evolving Blue Economy.

For Kenya, the challenge now lies in turning ambition into action and ensuring that the country’s ports, energy systems and maritime workforce are ready to seize the opportunities of a cleaner shipping future.