Tangier Med Port in Africa Achieves EU Emissions Compliance

Tangier Med has achieved remarkable success in the past 14 years, growing from handling zero to 8.6 million teu last year. Situated across the Strait of Gibraltar, Tangier Med now stands as the third largest port in Europe, surpassing Hamburg in container throughput and trailing only Rotterdam and Antwerp. Hassan Abkari, Managing Director of Tangier Med Port Authority, highlighted the port’s strategic location and strong partnerships with major European shipping lines like CMA CGM and AP Moller – Maersk during the Challenges and Opportunities for Maritime Trade Across the Mediterranean session at TOC Europe.

Abkari emphasized Tangier Med’s integration into a network of ports in the West Mediterranean, including Spain, that can support each other during times of congestion or strikes. With the evolving maritime regulatory landscape, ports must adapt to changes such as emissions regulations from the European Union and International Maritime Organization (IMO). Tangier Med, despite being in Africa, is considered part of Europe under new regulations like the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, necessitating compliance to maintain competitiveness.

In addition to EU measures, Tangier Med is committed to meeting IMO regulations aimed at reducing maritime emissions and following the EU’s renewable energy directive. Abkari noted the lack of an African taskforce to advocate for African ports impacted by European regulations, underscoring the importance of adapting to new constraints while continuing to provide top-notch services to customers like Maersk Line and CMA CGM. As the industry evolves, Tangier Med remains vigilant in monitoring and complying with regulatory changes to sustain its competitive edge in the global maritime trade landscape.

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