By Adeline R. Ndesanjo
The clinking of glasses and the low hum of conversation filled the Four Points Hotel in Dar es Salaam on the evening of August 21, 2025. But this was no ordinary reception. Gathered in the ballroom were Tanzania’s finest minds in maritime affairs—port managers, lawyers, environmentalists, academics, and regulators—all bound by a common alma mater thousands of kilometres away in northern Europe: the World Maritime University (WMU) in Malmö, Sweden.
They had come together to witness the official launch of the World Maritime University Tanzania Alumni Association (WMUTAA), an event that many hope will change the trajectory of the country’s relationship with the sea.
“By working together and sharing ideas, alumni can contribute to building a progressive and sustainable maritime community,” said Professor Maximo Q. Mejia, President of WMU, who flew in from Sweden to attend the ceremony as a special guest.
For Tanzania, the timing could not be more significant. The nation’s economy depends on the sea for trade, food security, and energy. Yet, the country’s maritime sector has long been underdeveloped compared to its potential. WMUTAA is being hailed as a platform that could harness expertise, shape policy, and transform Tanzania into a maritime leader in East Africa.
From Classroom to Coastline
Founded in 1983 under the auspices of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), WMU has trained thousands of maritime professionals worldwide. Known informally as the “Ivy League of the seas,” the university equips graduates with knowledge spanning shipping law, port management, safety, environmental governance, and the economics of the blue economy.
Over the past four decades, more than 160 Tanzanians have passed through its lecture halls. Many now hold senior positions in key national institutions—from the Tanzania Shipping Agencies Corporation (TASAC) and the Ministry of Transport to the Dar es Salaam Maritime Institute (DMI) and the private shipping sector.
Until now, their expertise was dispersed. WMUTAA represents a concerted effort to consolidate this intellectual capital, giving Tanzania a stronger voice in both domestic and international maritime arenas.
Professor Tumaini Gurumo, Principal of DMI, was elected as the association’s first Chairperson. Dr. Gerson Kumbuka, serving as Secretary-General, framed WMUTAA’s role succinctly: “We have alumni in strategic positions across the country. Together, we can provide input on maritime policies and environmental management before regulations are formalized. This is how we ensure Tanzania leverages its maritime potential to the fullest.”
Tanzania’s Maritime Moment
The stakes are high. Tanzania boasts a 1,400 km coastline and a strategic location along the Indian Ocean. Its ports—particularly Dar es Salaam, which handles 95 percent of national trade—are gateways not only for Tanzania but also for landlocked neighbours like Zambia, Malawi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
With new mega-port projects in Bagamoyo and Mtwara, Tanzania is racing to expand its capacity to meet growing regional demand. Simultaneously, the government is promoting a Blue Economy Strategy, which positions the ocean as a driver of sustainable growth in fisheries, offshore energy, shipping, and marine conservation.
Yet challenges abound. Tanzania imports the majority of its refined fuels, its fisheries sector is underregulated, and its maritime laws are in need of modernization. Climate change poses existential threats: rising sea levels, coastal erosion, and declining fish stocks.
This is where WMUTAA steps in. By consolidating alumni expertise, the association hopes to bridge the gap between policy and practice, offering government and private actors a pool of world-class knowledge.
More Than an Alumni Club
Alumni associations are often seen as social or networking groups. WMUTAA, however, is positioning itself as something more ambitious: a policy think-tank, mentorship hub, and advocacy body rolled into one.
Its founding charter emphasizes three priorities:
- Mentorship and Education — Supporting young Tanzanians pursuing maritime careers through scholarships, guidance, and access to global networks.
- Policy Engagement — Advising the government on maritime safety, port operations, fisheries management, and environmental protection.
- Global Partnerships — Linking Tanzania’s maritime sector with international institutions, development partners, and investors.
“Through seminars, mentorship programs, and policy dialogue, we intend to contribute directly to Tanzania’s maritime sector, which is increasingly vital to our economy,” said Prof. Gurumo.
Already, members are discussing partnerships with local universities to create joint training programs, as well as initiatives to green Tanzania’s shipping industry by encouraging the adoption of low-carbon fuels and port electrification.
Voices from the Launch
The sense of possibility was palpable at the Dar es Salaam event. Officials from the Ministry of Transport, senior figures at TASAC, and representatives from donor agencies mingled with younger graduates just beginning their careers.
Describing the launch as “a homecoming,” one alumna working in port logistics said, “For years, we have worked in isolation, each trying to make change in our own corners. WMUTAA gives us a chance to amplify our voices together.”
Another, an environmental lawyer, emphasized the urgency of alumni involvement in policy-making: “The world is moving fast on ocean governance—from climate treaties to decarbonization. Tanzania must not be left behind. WMUTAA can be our bridge into global conversations.”
Ripples Beyond Tanzania
The launch is not just a Tanzanian story. Across Africa, maritime nations are grappling with similar challenges—port inefficiencies, overfishing, illegal maritime activities, and the impact of climate change. The African Union’s 2050 Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy identifies the blue economy as a pillar of continental growth.
By establishing WMUTAA, Tanzania joins a growing fraternity of WMU alumni associations in countries such as Nigeria, Kenya, and Egypt. Together, these networks represent an emerging pan-African movement of maritime professionals determined to elevate the continent’s role in global shipping and ocean governance.
“This is not only about Tanzania,” Gurumo reminded the audience. “It is about Africa’s place in the global maritime order—and our responsibility to prepare the next generation for a sustainable ocean future.”
Charting the Course Ahead
Analysts believe WMUTAA’s success will depend on how effectively it translates knowledge into action. Tanzania’s maritime sector has often struggled with implementation gaps: policies are written, but resources and coordination lag behind.
If WMUTAA can act as a trusted partner to government and industry, it may help close that gap. Its alumni, trained to international standards, are well placed to navigate the complex intersections of trade, environment, and security.
The association also has an opportunity to influence Tanzania’s role in regional integration projects, such as the East African Community’s efforts to harmonize port operations and shipping regulations.
And at a time when climate change is reshaping coastlines, WMUTAA could emerge as a crucial voice in marine conservation and resilience planning, ensuring that economic growth does not come at the cost of ecological collapse.
Sailing Towards a Stronger Future
As the evening in Dar es Salaam drew to a close, the association’s motto—“Sailing Together Towards a Stronger Maritime Future”—was projected on the screen. For many in attendance, it felt like more than a slogan. It was a collective commitment to charting a course where Tanzania does not drift with global tides, but helps set them.
The gathering ended not with speeches but with conversations—small groups of alumni huddled together, exchanging ideas about fisheries management, shipping decarbonization, and port modernization. In those conversations lay the seeds of what WMUTAA might become: a lighthouse for the nation, and perhaps a beacon for the continent.
Ms. Adeline R. Ndesanjo is the CEO of Synergy Africa Limited.