WHEREAS, it is imperative to improve and expand the maritime sector in an organized manner to provide an enhanced and smooth service, considering the crucial importance of existence of efficient maritime sector for a country’s development and prosperity;

WHEREAS, it is essential to use modern means and marine transport techniques to administer dry ports, multimodal transport services and regulate vessels and marine transport and other maritime services, and to make use of inland water ways for transportation, and

WHEREAS, it is necessary to establish a government body reporting directly to Ministry of Transport and Communication, which assumes maritime-related duties currently carried out by various Government bodies to date, becomes responsible for analyses and work out of maritime related issues, and is responsible for follow up and execution of obligations and rights of our country under international maritime conventions;

NOW, THEREFORE, in accordance with Article 55 (1) of Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, it is hereby proclaimed as follows;