The International Maritime Organization (IMO) concluded, on Sunday, November 9, the mandatory audit of the Angolan state—an exercise aimed at assessing the technical compliance and effectiveness of the country’s national Maritime and Port System.
Conducted by three IMO experts over five days, the audit reviewed the implementation of key international conventions ratified by Angola, namely STCW, MARPOL, LOAD LINES, SOLAS, COLREG, and TONNAGE, which define global standards for maritime safety and sustainability.
At the conclusion of the audit, the IMO auditors highlighted the progress achieved by Angola and encouraged the country to continue its path of institutional consolidation and full compliance with international standards, positioning itself as a regional and global maritime reference.
According to a statement from the National Maritime Agency accessed by ANGOP on Monday, the audit results confirm significant progress in Angola’s Maritime and Port System, reflected in the reduction of non-conformities from 37 to 15 compared to the 2014 audit.
The IMO’s recognition, according to the National Maritime Agency, reflects Angola’s efforts in legal, technical, and institutional modernization and harmonization—stemming from investments made over the past ten months, including staff training, the creation of quality management systems, the preparation of operational manuals, and the signing of cooperation agreements among sector entities.
With this outcome, the report reads, Angola reaffirms its commitment to continuously improve the legal and operational framework of the maritime domain, ensuring that the sea becomes a strategic resource for economic development, job creation, productive diversification, and the strengthening of national sovereignty.
For the Minister of Transport, Ricardo D’Abreu—quoted in the statement—the audit result demonstrates that Angola is on the right path: modernizing, fully integrating into international standards, and transforming the sea into a true pillar of sovereignty, security, and national economic development.
He emphasized that the reduction in non-conformities is a reason for satisfaction, but also a clear indication that there is still work to be done.
“Our ambition is for Angola to achieve full international compliance and for the sea to stand as a national asset of prosperity and sovereignty,” he stated.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring that each recommendation translates into tangible improvements and visible results for the country and for Angolans.
Meanwhile, the Chairwoman of the National Maritime Agency, Anisabel Costa, noted that the institution remains determined to continue working with the same rigor and in close cooperation with all partners to eliminate the remaining 15 non-conformities in the near future.
Source: ANGOP
