Using marine spatial planning to align priority areas for maritime transportation activities

Abstract

South Africa is using Marine Spatial Planning to support the sustainable unlocking of economic opportunities from the ocean. Marine Spatial Planning guides where and when activities can take place in the ocean and is emerging as a global process that many countries are adopting. The expansion of all maritime sectors is politically desired, and direct and indirect job creation in the ocean is a declared a policy of Operation Phakisa: Oceans Economy.

The maritime transport sector is one of the sectors that are playing a key role in the development of the South African Marine Spatial Planning process. The sector seeks to unlock investments in new and existing port facilities and to create an enabling environment for enhancing South Africa’s role in the maritime transport sector.

To play a constructive role in the development of South African Marine Spatial Plans, the maritime transport sector will engage its stakeholders in the development of a Marine Sector Plan. A marine sector plan outlines the priorities of the sector over the next decade and will be used as an input towards the development of the four marine spatial plans that South Africa will be developed in the process. The future of the ports and harbours and the intensity of shipping in South African waters will be driven by trends in world trade, transport technology and the development of marine industries.