Liberia Maritime Authority Earns ‘B’ Rating in 2025 Performance Scorecard

By Amos Harris 

The Liberia Maritime Authority (LMA) has received a solid “B” rating in the 2025 national performance scorecard, reflecting a year marked by major international achievements, domestic reforms, and lingering governance concerns.

The scorecard, released this week, highlights the Authority’s strong performance under the leadership of Commissioner Cllr. Neto Zarzar Lighe, who oversaw significant progress in the maritime sector, one of Liberia’s most critical revenue sources.

One of the LMA’s most notable accomplishments was Liberia’s re-election to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council Category A, a position reserved for the world’s top maritime states. 

The achievement cements Liberia’s standing as a global shipping leader and reinforces the country’s influence in international maritime policy.

In 2025, the Authority also launched a comprehensive five-year strategic plan aimed at strengthening maritime safety and security, advancing digital modernization, and expanding opportunities within the country’s growing blue economy. 

As part of the reform agenda, LMA enhanced its issuance of Marine Advisories to ensure vessel readiness and uphold global compliance standards, earning praise from international partners for modernization efforts and improved regulatory enforcement.

However, the scorecard also underscores key challenges. Liberia recorded several vessel detentions in high-risk Port State Control (PSC) regions, raising concerns about compliance oversight within the registry. 

Additionally, a contentious procurement dispute involving the BMC Group sparked public scrutiny and is currently under review by the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC). 

These issues, the report notes, exposed governance and transparency gaps that require urgent corrective action.

Despite these setbacks, the 2025 assessment concludes that the Liberia Maritime Authority made “meaningful progress” and continues to demonstrate strong potential within the global maritime industry. 

The report warns, however, that Liberia must address its enforcement and governance shortcomings to sustain international confidence in the world’s second-largest ship registry.

The scorecard ultimately assigns the Authority a “B”, signaling competent performance with clear room for improvement in oversight, transparency, and compliance management.