The bidding process for the concession to build a new shipyard in Casablanca, Morocco—which had previously drawn competition from several shipbuilders—was ultimately terminated after several months of delays.
According to foreign media reports, Morocco’s National Ports Agency (ANP) has officially cancelled the tender for the concession of the Casablanca shipyard and stated that it will formulate a new strategic development direction for the shipyard.
Local Moroccan media, citing sources within the ANP, reported that the cancellation was unrelated to the bidders or their submitted proposals. Instead, it reflects the ANP’s consideration of “national sovereignty” and a commitment to maintaining state control over critical maritime assets—a stance that aligns with the development vision of the Moroccan monarchy.
Reports indicate that the ANP first attempted to tender the concession for the Casablanca shipyard in 2019, but failed to attract any bids. Around the same time, the agency also explored a potential operational partnership with the French firm Naval Group, though no agreement was reached.
In April 2025, the ANP relaunched the concession tender for the Casablanca shipyard, seeking a private operator to undertake its upgrade and modernization. The successful bidder would have been granted a 30-year concession to operate the facility.
During the tender period, the concession for the Casablanca shipyard attracted interest from several global shipbuilding companies. A total of seven entities—participating either independently or as part of a consortium—submitted bids. These include: a consortium comprising Morocco’s Somagec Group, South Korea’s HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, and Turkey’s Kuzey Star Shipyard; a consortium consisting of Morocco’s Radi Holding, Spain’s Marina Meridional, and China’s Ningbo Xinle Shipbuilding; and the Italian operator San Giorgio del Porto, which submitted a bid—with some reports suggesting it may have partnered with a Moroccan firm.
According to the plans of Morocco’s ANP, the preliminary evaluation results for this tender were initially scheduled for announcement in July 2025. The timeline was subsequently extended to August 2026, and later pushed back further to December 31, 2026. Now, following an 18-month delay, the ANP has decided to cancel the tender—a move suggesting that the Casablanca shipyard may no longer be operated under a private concession model.
Although the future operating model for the Casablanca shipyard remains in flux, the Moroccan authorities appear to favor a state-led approach for the new facility. In a 2023 address, King Mohammed VI of Morocco called for the development of a “strong national merchant fleet with international competitiveness.” That same year, the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESE)—a Moroccan public think tank—identified the shipbuilding industry as a sector with high growth potential for the national economy, designating the Casablanca shipyard as a key shipbuilding hub.
According to the tender announcement previously issued by Morocco’s National Ports Agency (ANP), the new Casablanca shipyard project involves a total investment of approximately $300 million and covers an area of about 210,000 square meters. Its core facilities include: a new dry dock measuring 244 meters long and 40 meters wide; a lifting platform with a load capacity of 9,000 tonnes, measuring 150 meters long and 28 meters wide; a 450-tonne shipbuilding gantry crane; and an outfitting quay with a total length of 820 meters, among others. The shipyard will be capable of building merchant ships, naval vessels, and fishing vessels. Once fully completed, the Casablanca shipyard will become the largest shipyard in Africa.