Morocco seeks to establish Africa's largest shipyard in Casablanca

Morocco’s National Ports Agency (ANP) has initiated an international tender for a 30-year concession to operate what will become Africa’s largest shipyard in Casablanca. This ambitious project, valued at $300 million, aims to replicate Morocco’s success in automotive manufacturing by catering to both local and international maritime demands.

The state-run agency is actively searching for experienced operators to develop, equip, and manage the 52-acre site. Abdellatif Lhouaoui, ANP Communications Director, emphasized the strategic vision behind this initiative, stating, “We aim to capture demand from the saturated shipyards in southern Europe and cater to African ships heading to Europe.”

The new facility is set to surpass existing shipyards across the continent, including those in South Africa, and will significantly enhance Morocco’s maritime capabilities. The tender document released on April 7 outlines four major installations: a 244-meter by 40-meter dry dock, a 150-meter by 28-meter lifting platform with a capacity of 9,000 tonnes, a 62-meter by 13-meter basin equipped with a 450-ton gantry crane, and 820 linear meters of outfitting quays. The site also includes 21 hectares of open terrain for operations.

Industry sources indicate that French naval contractor Naval Group and South Korea’s Hyundai, which operates the world’s largest shipyard in Ulsan, are likely frontrunners for the contract. In contrast, Spain’s state-owned Navantia may have limited options, as the Casablanca facility is designed to compete directly with Spanish operations.

“This is a niche activity that bidders can fully propose. We want to replicate the story of the car industry,” Lhouaoui remarked, highlighting that bidders can also propose shipbuilding components during the tender process. The new shipyard will service commercial, military, and fishing vessels, enabling Morocco to maintain its military fleet domestically rather than relying on foreign expenditures—an important consideration for a country planning to loosen its currency peg in 2026.

This project aligns with Morocco’s ongoing maritime and industrial expansion. The country’s Tanger-Med port achieved an impressive 18.8% growth in 2024, processing 10.24 million containers, a stark contrast to the stagnation seen at Spain’s competing Algeciras port. Similarly, Morocco’s automotive sector has thrived, with facilities operated by Renault and Stellantis exporting over 500,000 vehicles to the European Union in 2023, valued at €15.1 billion. This sector now constitutes 27% of Morocco’s exports and 16% of its GDP, surpassing remittances and tourism revenues.

The tender requirements, published in French, stipulate that bidding companies must demonstrate at least ten years of experience operating comparable shipyards. Candidates may bid independently or as part of a consortium led by an experienced operator. The project has gained particular significance following the autumn 2022 redirection of Russian fishing fleet maintenance from Spanish Canary Island ports to Moroccan facilities due to sanctions related to the Ukraine conflict.