LiMA Pursues Modern Ferry -Public-private model to fund the vessel

MONROVIA – Liberia is moving to buy a modern multi-purpose ferry. The bet is that its long-neglected coastline can carry goods and people the way its rutted roads often cannot. The Liberia Maritime Authority says the vessel would haul containers, trucks, buses and passengers along the shore. The aim is to ease pressure on a strained road network. Officials plan to run the service through a public-private partnership, pairing government oversight with private investment and management. The pitch frames the coastline as an underused engine of trade, jobs and regional commerce. Whether the plan can close the gap between announcement and a working vessel will test how far the ambition travels. THE ANALYST reports.

What The Vessel Carries

The Liberia Maritime Authority (LiMA) said the proposed ferry would move containers, trucks, buses, SUVs, earth-moving equipment and passengers along the coast. Officials cast it as both an alternative and a complement to the road network.

Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer Cllr. Neto Zarzar Lighe, Sr., said the initiative was about more than a single vessel. He said it aimed to connect communities, move goods more efficiently and open new opportunities for regional trade.

A Partnership Model

The service would run under a public-private partnership, with LiMA providing regulation and oversight while a private partner brings investment, operational expertise and commercial management. The arrangement, the Authority said, would set clear accountability for safety, maintenance, revenue and service delivery.

Lighe said any service developed under the plan would meet the highest standards of safety, environmental responsibility and efficiency. He said the model would combine government oversight with private-sector investment to deliver a sustainable service.

The Wider Aim

LiMA framed the ferry as a step toward unlocking the economic potential of Liberia’s coastline and strengthening maritime logistics. The project, it said, could support jobs, skills development, coastal commerce and openings for Liberian seafarers.

The Authority said it would consult government institutions, private stakeholders and coastal communities as the plan advances. It pledged that the vessel would comply with Liberian law and international maritime safety and environmental standards.