Casablanca Prepares to Host Africa’s Largest Shipyard: A Strategic Turning Point for Morocco

A National Ambition: Positioning Morocco as a Regional Naval Power

Currently operating a modest merchant fleet, Morocco has set itself an ambitious goal under its national logistics plan: reaching 100 vessels by 2040. To achieve this, the Kingdom aims to reduce reliance on foreign players and invest in its own industrial capacities. Casablanca, with its emblematic port, is at the heart of this strategy.

The new shipyard, spanning 210,000 square meters, will include a 244-meter dry dock, 820 meters of industrial quays, and lifting capacity of 9,000 tons. Designed for both shipbuilding and repair, it will serve Moroccan shipowners as well as major international operators.

Hyundai, a Global Partner

With over 450 ships currently on order and a strong industrial footprint in Asia, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries views Casablanca as a strategic base for expansion and decongestion. Morocco offers an exceptional environment: political stability, a skilled and competitive workforce, world-class port infrastructure, and a privileged geographical location at the crossroads of Europe, West Africa, and the Americas.

This partnership promises to be a true win-win. For Hyundai, Casablanca becomes a new international anchor. For Morocco, it offers a unique opportunity to benefit from knowledge transfer, train a new generation of technicians and engineers, and gradually build an integrated naval industry.

Strengthening Industrial and Logistical Sovereignty

Beyond its economic impact, the project underscores Morocco’s determination to secure maritime and logistical autonomy. Today, a significant share of the Kingdom’s foreign trade depends on foreign fleets. The Casablanca shipyard will provide the capacity to support Morocco’s merchant fleet while also responding to the needs of both military and civilian vessels.

The project’s framework sets strict requirements for technology transfer, job creation, and local value addition, reflecting the Kingdom’s strategic vision of building a sustainable and competitive shipbuilding sector, much like the successes already achieved in the automotive and aeronautics industries.

Long known for its container activity, the Port of Casablanca is about to undergo a profound transformation. The shipyard’s infrastructure is already completed and ready to begin operations. Once operational, it will be the largest shipyard in Africa and a powerful symbol of Morocco’s emerging blue economy.

By transforming Casablanca into Africa’s naval capital, Morocco once again demonstrates its ability to combine royal vision, industrial ambition, and high-level strategic partnerships. A new chapter in the Kingdom’s maritime history is about to be written, with the open seas as its horizon.

Translated from Abderrazzak Boussaid’s French – le7tv