The Ivorian Senate adopted on Thursday, November 5, in Yamoussoukro the bill ratifying the ordinance that now reserves the status of shipowner for duly constituted legal entities.
The reform modifies Article 803 of the Maritime Code. An individual can no longer operate as a shipowner in Côte d’Ivoire, while a company must meet the conditions set by national and community regulations.
The text corrects an incompatibility with the regulation of the West African Economic and Monetary Union dated March 28, 2008. The Ivorian Maritime Code previously recognized this status for any natural or legal person operating one or more vessels, whereas Article 10 of the UEMOA regulation reserves it for duly constituted legal entities.
The Minister Delegate in charge of African Integration, Adama Dosso, announced before the senators the creation of a steering committee intended for Ivorian operators wishing to invest in maritime transport. This mechanism is designed to provide logistical support and offer training to the stakeholders involved.
According to the objectives presented to Parliament, compliance must increase the participation of Ivorian capital in the transportation of goods for foreign trade. It also aims to limit freight payments to foreign companies, support the employment of Ivorian sailors, and strengthen the presence of national operators.
Ordinance number 2025-562 was issued on July 2, 2025, and then published in the Official Journal on July 28 of the same year. The government had explained that the exclusion of natural persons was intended to improve the traceability of operators, legal security, and the control of maritime activities.
The ratification bill had already received a unanimous vote in committee at the National Assembly on May 7, 2026. Its parliamentary review falls within the framework of Article 106 of the Constitution and the authorization granted to the Head of State by the 2025 finance law.
A decree adopted in December 2025 also subjects access to the shipowner profession to approval. It specifies the required documents, the review procedure, response times, and possible grounds for refusal.
