Maritime & coastal
Ports, maritime transport, marine value chains and coastal development.
Our positioning
Analysis, partners
and support on the ground.
Blue Ocean International is a multidisciplinary advisory firm specialising in the blue economy. We support decision-making, project development and cooperation between African and European stakeholders.
Our work covers maritime, river and lake ecosystems, and their waterfront areas and communities. Our approach combines governance, markets, sustainability, skills and partnerships.
Every engagement brings together the required expertise around a clear objective, an explicit method and useful deliverables.
Coastal cities & territories
Plan development.
Organise public action.
Assessments, masterplans, strategic plans and territorial blue economy strategies: support from scoping to monitoring with local stakeholders.
Our field: the blue economy
Seas. Rivers. Lakes.
The territories that depend on them.
We support economic activities and cooperation connected to maritime, river and lake environments, and their waterfront areas and communities. Sustainability, economic value and inclusion guide our work.
River environments
Inland navigation, corridors, economic activities and territories connected to rivers.
Lake environments
Fisheries, aquaculture, mobility, sustainable tourism and lake-based activities.
Waterfront territories
Cities, communities, jobs, skills and resilience around seas, rivers and lakes.
Our expertise
From assessment to action.
Tailored engagements with concrete outputs at each stage.
Strategy & governance
Clarify priorities and define an action plan.
Potential deliverables
Strategic assessment · Roadmap · Action plan
Studies & project development
Assess a market or project before taking the next steps.
Potential deliverables
Market study · Pre-feasibility · Terms of reference
Strategic intelligence & foresight
Evidence-based analysis to inform decisions.
Potential deliverables
Explore this serviceDecision brief · Targeted monitoring · Scenarios
International development & partnerships
Identify partners and prepare market entry.
Potential deliverables
Stakeholder mapping · Market-entry plan · Meeting agenda
Benchmarking, missions & study visits
Compare practices and organise visits relevant to your projects.
Potential deliverables
Comparative analysis · Visit programme · Adaptation report
Short courses & capacity building
Practical workshops and courses, from half a day to five days.
Potential deliverables
View formats and themesTailored programme · Applied exercises · Action plan
Blue Mobility — Africa–Europe training
Prepare training pathways and support mobility between Africa and Europe.
Potential deliverables
Explore Blue MobilityNeeds profile · Programme shortlist · Application & timeline
Services available on request and by quotation. Our fees reflect scope, deliverables, duration and the expertise required.
Understand our fees & arrangements
Our flagship partnership initiative
Africa Pavilion at Europort.
An ambition taking shape.
Since 2025, Blue Ocean International has been developing a platform connecting African blue economy stakeholders with international maritime, technology and institutional partners.
2025Rotterdam: the starting point
The first African delegation at Europort, laying the foundations for long-term cooperation.
2026Istanbul: connecting ecosystems
Africa Pavilion: 4–6 November. Economic mission in Türkiye: 9–13 November.
2027Rotterdam: expanding the platform
Europort: 2–5 November. Training: 1, 8 and 9 November. Economic mission: 10–12 November. Provisional Blue Ocean programme.
Needs on both sides
Cooperation that creates
value for everyone.
We start with the decision to be made and the local context, whether the client is a public institution or a business.
For African stakeholders
Define a strategy, compare solutions, develop a project, identify international partners and strengthen team capabilities.
Institutions · Ports · Local authorities · BusinessesFor European stakeholders
Understand African markets and ecosystems, assess entry conditions, identify partners and prepare cooperation grounded in local realities.
Businesses · Local authorities · Universities · OrganisationsStrategic intelligence for decision-makers
Information creates value
when it informs a decision.
We offer targeted monitoring, decision briefs and strategic dossiers that connect facts to their implications for your organisation.
Explore strategic intelligenceBLUE OCEAN / INSIGHTSDeliverable format
One brief. Four answers.
- What is happening?
- Why does it matter to you?
- What are your options?
- What next step should you consider?
Dated sources · Analysis · Action options
Partner territory · Kribi
Raise a territory’s profile.
Build its connections.
Under our contract with the Kribi City Council, we contribute to the city’s place marketing and the development of its international cooperation.
Discover KribiThe Blue Ocean network
Local roots.
International coordination.
A shared identity and dedicated spaces for each organisation, with priorities and cooperation pathways adapted to the country.
Netherlands
International coordinationBlue Ocean International leads the shared service offering and coordinates cross-border cooperation.
Explore the organisation
Cameroon
Established organisationBlue Ocean Cameroon S.A.R.L. provides local grounding for engagements and partnerships.
Explore the organisation
Benin
Planned local organisationA dedicated space for the future organisation and dialogue on the Beninese market.
Explore the organisation
Kenya
Planned local organisationA dedicated space for the future organisation and dialogue in East Africa.
Explore the organisation
Côte d’Ivoire
Planned local organisationA dedicated space for developing the Blue Ocean presence and cooperation in Côte d’Ivoire.
Explore the organisation
Tanzania
Developing networkA cooperation space for maritime, lake, river and waterfront stakeholders in Tanzania.
Explore the organisation
Nigeria
Developing networkA space for cooperation with blue economy institutions, businesses and professionals in Nigeria.
Explore the organisation7 countries featured · 6 African country spaces · coordination in the Netherlands
Our approach
Understand. Compare.
Connect. Support.
An engagement does not end with a document or a study visit. Lessons need to translate into decisions and action.
Define
Question, objectives, scope and success criteria.
Analyse
Sources, interviews, fieldwork and comparison of options.
Connect
Relevant counterparts and carefully prepared exchanges.
Follow through
Synthesis, recommendations and next steps.
About the firm
An international ambition,
a human approach.
Founded by Joseph Junior SEH and coordinated from Leiden in the Netherlands, Blue Ocean International connects African priorities with international expertise.
The firm works through a network model: local organisations, experts and partners brought together according to each engagement’s needs.
Joseph Junior SEHFounder & CEO, Blue Ocean International
Associate experts
Expertise that works together.
International governance, law, maritime consulting, taxation and the blue economy: discover the Blue Ocean network’s profiles.
Join us
Your expertise.
Your local knowledge.
A shared ambition.
Would you like to contribute to the blue economy? Join our expert network or propose developing a Blue Ocean representation in your country.
News & press review
News from our network and territories
All news
Africa Pavilion 2026 partner
AMINOU-EO joins us in Istanbul
Space technologies, Earth observation and the blue economy: discover our partner and watch the introduction video.
Discover our partner AMINOU-EOA place to act and stay informed
Discover projects.
Stay informed.
Making projects visible and sharing reliable information helps partners identify opportunities and make informed decisions.
International calendar
Blue economy events.
Exhibitions, conferences and meetings: prepare your exchanges and missions with a selection of international events and their official sources.
Blue Shop · Products, services & territories
Creations.
Places to discover.
Explore products and creations inspired by waterfront cities. For suppliers, business listings and expertise, explore the Blue Business Hub.
Explore the Blue Shop
Your next step
Discuss your priorities.
Plan your next steps.
Tell us about your context, objectives and timeline. We will propose a scope of work, deliverables and the expertise suited to your needs.
Discuss your projectBLUE OCEAN INTERNATIONALjoseph.seh@oceanbleu.ltdWhatsApp · +31 6 2868 6492
International coordination: Leiden, Netherlands
7 countries featured · 6 African country spaces · coordination in the Netherlands
The mayor of Kribi during an international meeting. Photo provided by Blue Ocean International.
Photo Bosphore : Etienne Girardet / Unsplash