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TODAY’S BULLETIN OF MARITIME NEWS

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FIRST VIEW: RHL CONSTANTIA

RHL Constantia in Durban. Picture by Ken Malcolm, in Africa PORTS & SHIPS Maritime News
RHL Constantia. Picture: Ken Malcolm

The container ship RHL CONSTANTIA (58,027-dwt) seen here on the North Quay of the Durban Container Terminal, is a frequent and regular visitor to South African ports. The Liberian-flagged ship is owned by German interests and managed by Reederei Hamburger Lloyd of Hamburg, Germany. Built in 2013 at the Shanghai Jiangnan Changxing Heavy Industry Co shipyard, Ltd, the 260-metre long, 4,620-TEU RHL Constantia is currently under a time charter to Mitsui OSK Line (MOL). This picture is by Ken Malcolm

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DoT TO STAGE ANNUAL SEAFARERS DAY AT MBIZANA, PONDOLAND

Cadets going to the Antarctic on board SA Agulhas. Picture: Terry Hutson, appearing in Africa PORTS & SHIPS Maritime News
Cadets going to the Antarctic on board SA Agulhas. Picture: Terry Hutson

As previously announced in Africa PORTS & SHIPS 19 June 2017, the Eastern Cape, South Africa’s 2nd largest province by coastline along the Indian Ocean, will be the venue for this year’s local celebrations of the international Seafarers Day this Sunday, 25 June.

The Department of Transport (DoT) together with the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) have confirmed that the annual event focused on the crucial role seafarers worldwide play in the management of seagoing transport, will be staged at Mbizana in the Eastern Cape (inland from Port Edward), this partly to also honor the country’s current year-long celebrations of the O.R Tambo centennial.

Driven by the…[restrict] International Maritime Organization (IMO) together with partner countries including South Africa, this year’s Seafarers Day celebration theme is; “#SeafarersMatter”.

According to the IMO, the theme is intended as a campaign to engage people responsible for the world’s ports and seafarer centres to “demonstrate how much seafarers matter to them by featuring great initiatives that support and promote seafarer welfare.”

“These efforts”, says the IMO; “are presented on a new virtual world map, which showcases best practices and helps celebrate seafarers.”

SAMSA cadets, appearing in Africa PORTS & SHIPS Maritime News
SAMSA cadets

In South Africa, the DoT and SAMSA together with the Eastern Cape provincial government will use the event to not only celebrate seafarers worldwide to spread greater public awareness both about the country’s maritime economic sector, as well as awareness about the role of seafarers in that space, but will also seek to connect with communities in the eastern part of the Eastern Cape with a view to establishing community projects to enhance people’s skills for meaningful participation in the sector of the economy.

Towards this end, the parties will launch a series of maritime sector skills development initiatives including the training of about 150 youths in the Port St Johns, Mbizana and adjacent towns in deep sea diving, sea rescue and related skills.

The programme will also see others receive training in basic seafarer skills that will allow them to be placed on cruise vessels around the world.

The Seafarers’ Day celebrations at Mbizana are scheduled to also feature a dozen or so sailors from South Africa including cadets currently undergoing training under the country national cadets development programme.

According to the programme for Sunday, aspects of the country’s maritime heritage as well marine and coastal tourism will also feature as some of the components of Operation Phakisa (Oceans Economy) ocean growth project.

Meanwhile, it was also formally confirmed this week that South Africa will be the host venue for the IMO’s 2020 World Maritime Day Conference by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Assembly in 2020.

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GHANA PORTS AUTHORITY CRACKS DOWN ON ILLEGAL PORT DEVELOPERS

GPHA task team at work. Appearing in Africa PORTS & SHIPS Maritime News. Picture: GPHA
Task Team at work. Picture: GPHA

Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) led by its Director General Paul Asare Ansah is embarking on a severe clampdown on some individuals, corporations and private entities that are believed to be involved with construction or development of smaller unauthorised port facilities along some coastal towns in the country.

A task team under command of the Port Security Manager, Lt Col. Nana Darkwa and comprising the Port Authority’s monitoring department, the Port Security, Ghana Navy, Ghana Marine Police, National Security, Bureau of National Investigations and journalists has been charged with investigating the existence of these illegal ports and harbours along the coast.

The first point of call by the team was at…[restrict] Anyanui in the Keta Municipality of the Volta region.

Map: IRIN, appearing in Africa PORTS & SHIPS Maritime News
Map: IRIN

Here, the task team uncovered evidence that a fishing harbour called Omanye Ocean Fishing Company was about to be constructed with the assistance of Chinese nationals.

About 34 Chinese nationals were already on site and 14 fishing vessels had arrived from China for the project.

Equipment to be used in building a harbour facility had been brought in containers.

According to the GPHA the project is said to belong a Tema man named Joe Onyame.

A former Assembly member in the Keta Municipality who is also involved in the project briefed the team. He said the Chiefs and elders of the community including the Keta Municipal Assembly had given their blessings for the project.

The team proceeded to the Keta Municipal Assembly, where the Municipal Chief Executive Seth Yormewu maintained that although he was aware of the project he hadn’t been briefed about it, on account that was only sworn into office very recently.

Next port of call was Tema New Town where an LPG storage facility is being constructed.

Construction of this terminal was said to have commenced in May 2016 with an expected completion in December this year. It was anticipated that the facility would shortly start receiving oil and gas tankers.

Breakwaters stretching 600 metres out to sea have been constructed.

It was claimed that permits for the project have been obtained from the Environmental Protection Agency, Ghana National Fire Service, Tema Metropolitan Assembly and Ghana Maritime Authority.

A spokesperson for the project said that a permit from the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority had been applied for but they are yet to receive authorisation.

By virtue of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority Act, PNDCL 160 of 1986, GPHA is the sole governmental authority authorised and mandated to plan, build, develop, manage, operate and control port facilities in the country.

Therefore any port, harbour, marina, jetty or berth development or related activity that has or is being carried out without due process and the formal consent and approval of the GPHA as provided for under PNDCL 160 of 1986, constitutes an illegality and is subject to sanctions or prosecutions and other consequences. source: GPHA[/restrict]

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NEW FERRY FOR LIKONI CROSSING ON THE WAY TO KENYA

MV Kwale and MV Likoni moored at the Dradenau Terminal in the Port of Hamburg, Germany., appearing in Africa PORTS & SHIPS Maritime News
MV Kwale and MV Likoni moored at the Dradenau Terminal in the Port of Hamburg, Germany.

The Port of Mombasa will shortly take delivery in Mombasa of the first of two new ferries to help relieve the pressure on the busy Likoni Channel crossing between the mainland and Mombasa Island.

Construction of MV JAMBO has been completed at the Ozata shipyard in Turkey and the ferry is now on its way by ship to the Kenyan port.

Likoni ferry at Mombasa. Picture appearing if Africa PORTS & SHIPS Maritime News
Likoni in service at Mombasa

MV Jambo will join an existing fleet of ferries in service at Mombasa, where more than 300,000 people and 6,000 vehicles make use each day of the services provided by Kenya Ferry Services. Jambo is due in Mombasa on 27 July. A second new ferry named MV SAFARI is due from the same shipyard in November this year.

The new ferries will have accommodation for 1391 passengers including facilities for the disabled, the elderly and for pregnant women. They will also be able to carry up to 64 motor vehicles, with passengers being carried on an upper deck and motor vehicles on the lower.

On arrival of MV Safari Kenya Ferry Services will operate with a fleet of new and older ferries. Those in the fleet include MV NYAYO, MV HARAMBEE and MV KILINDINI (purchased secondhand in 1990), and MV KWALE and MV LIKONI.

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SHIPPING LINES NO-SHOWS FINE COULD RESULT IN ‘NIGHTMARES’ AMONG FREIGHT FORWARDERS

Picture: Maersk Line, appearing in Africa PORTS & SHIPS Maritime News
Picture: Maersk Line

Online freight forwarding company iContainers says the recent implementation of no-shows fine by shipping liners could potentially cause ‘nightmares’ for freight forwarders.

In recent months, shipping liners including Maersk, CMA CGM, and Hapag-Lloyd have begun implementing no-shows fines on shipments that fail to show up on vessels. iContainers warns that such a fee, while the right move for liners, could result in ‘accounting nightmares’ for OTIs and NVOCCs.

“For freight forwarders and NVOCCs, these fees could become a much bigger challenge as…[restrict] we do not necessarily control the cargo we are booking and often have no control over a client cancelling at the last minute,” says Klaus Lysdal, Vice President of Sales and Operations of iContainers.

Under CMA CGM’s implementation, the booking party is responsible for paying this fee, which could spell danger for freight forwarders.

“The OTI community will have to prepare itself. OTIs should consider implementing policies to prevent potential accounting nightmares that could leave them stuck with cancellation charges,” warns Mr Lysdal.

Tackling a long-standing problem

The fine is aimed at cost compensation. No-shows cause huge costs for carriers, as they often have to lower rates as a last-ditch effort to fill their vessels, and this may cause them to lose money. To put things into perspective, Hapag-Lloyd estimates that around a quarter of its bookings fail to load as a result of no-shows.

The no-shows problem has been plaguing the ocean freight industry for years and this isn’t the first time liners have tried to introduce such a fee. Despite that, Mr Lysdal has voiced optimism at the latest implementation.

“The no-shows fine is a step in the right direction from the carriers. Certainly, from their perspective, it’s strange that they have never been able to implement charges like these in the past. But now that there are fewer carriers to choose from, the chances of these fees sticking around have greatly increased,” explains Mr Lysdal.

More drastic efforts await

It will take some time to verify whether or not the latest move to curtail no-shows has achieved its purpose. According to iContainers, more drastic steps may need to be taken if the new implementation attempt fails, which may relieve the long-standing issue, but at the same time cause more pressure on shipping lines.

“If this fails to work again, the next step in the process may be to follow what airlines do and demand payment at the time of booking,” says Mr Lysdal.

“This would certainly ease the burden on the carriers’ planning. But it would also increase the demand for them to deliver in terms of space and equipment, and quite possibly increase sailing schedule integrity and dependability.”[/restrict]

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MOL LEVIES US$300 PER TEU RATE HIKE ASIA-SOUTHERN AFRICA FROM 1 JULY

MOL Advantage, appearing in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news

Japanese shipping giant Mitsui OSK Line (MOL) has announced a general rate increase (GRI) on all cargo moving from Asia to southern Africa.

Starting 1 July 2017, the GRI will be US$300 per TEU and $600 per FEU on cargo from Asia including Indian subcontinent and Middle East to southern Africa, including South Africa, Lesotho and Zimbabwe.

No reasons have been given for the GRI in MOL’s announcement.

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QUESTIONS RAISED ABOUT USS FITZGERALD COLLISION WITH CONTAINER SHIP

With the recovery of the bodies of seven US Navy sailors in their flooded sleeping quarters on board the Arleigh-Burke class destroyer, USS FITZGERALD, attention is now turning to how it was possible for a modern container ship to slice into the side of a highly sophisticated US$1.5 billion American warship with such tragic consequences.

The seven men died on Saturday (17 June 2017) when the two ships came into collision just outside…[restrict] Tokyo Bay. The container ship ACX CRYSTAL received superficial damage to her bulbous bow and its port bow gunwale. None of her crew of 20 were injured.

Picture: US Navy
Picture: US Navy

For USS Fitzgerald however, which took the collision on her starboard side immediately below the bridge, resulting in instant flooding to the degree that it required urgent action to prevent the destroyer from sinking.

Fitzgerald’s damage was to two berthing spaces, a machinery room and the ship’s radio room. Most of the crew of 200 were asleep at the time.

The warship was returning to her base at Yokosuka.

Some of the speculation includes the theory that there was no-one on the bridge of the container ship at the time and that the ship was on autopilot. This is based partly on a delay in reporting the collision. If there was someone on the bridge they were probably unaware of how to turn off the autopilot, the theory goes.

AIS data shows that ACX Crystal did an about-turn on her track. The US Navy and the owners of the Japanese-owned Crystal each have differing times for the accident, almost an hour apart, between 01h30 and 02h20 respectively.

Immediately following the collision, US and Japanese authorities initiated an air search for survivors. Three sailors, including the destroyer’s captain, were airlifted to the US Navy hospital on the Yokosuka base. Injuries to all three were described as minor.

Watch now a short YouTube video clip [2:50] reporting on the accident:


[/restrict]

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EAST LONDON PORT FESTIVAL THIS WEEKEND

appearing in Africa PORTS & SHIPS Maritime News

East London’s premier outdoor family festival is back. The city’s iconic harbour precinct is set to be transformed this Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th June into a spectacular showcase of local music, quality arts and crafts, impressive naval prowess and high-adrenaline entertainment, as Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) together with its main partner, Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, stages another eagerly anticipated East London Port Festival.

The two-day festival returns with all the thrills and spills that have made this one of the region’s most popular and best-loved outdoor events, but ramps up the fun factor with a host of exciting new attractions.

Port Festival poster, appearing in Africa PORTS & SHIPS Maritime News

“The East London Port Festival is a celebration not only of our city’s marine and maritime identify, but also the importance of our ocean economy,” says acting Port Manager Alvin Singama. “As such, we encourage all members of the public, young and old, to come experience first-hand the exciting inner workings of a vibrant commercial port.”

In addition to old festival favourites such as air and sea rescue demonstrations, naval manoeuvres, tug rides, helicopter flips, an anything-that-floats competition, live jazz and a spectacular fireworks display, this year’s festival will also include two days of heart-stopping bungee jumping and harbour racing featuring rubber ducks, yachts and, possibly hard bottom boat racing.

The South African Navy will be sending one of their spectacular frigates, SAS Spioenkop. The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) will back up the water maritime exhibition with one of their protection vessels while the much-loved Cape Minstrels will add to the festival’s eclectic music and entertainment programme.

Festival-goers will be able to see one of the giants of the oceans, an impressive mega-ton car carrier manoeuvring onto the quayside and begin to receive its load. The SA Agulhas, a polar supply and training vessel which recently returned from a scientific expedition to Antarctica, will also be in port are part of the water based maritime exhibition.

Scholars and students interested in pursuing a marine career are invited to attend a maritime exhibition, which will also feature a careers expo.

As was the case with previous events, the 2017 East London Port Festival is being staged as a charity and community development event. Previous port festivals have raised millions of rands for local charities and NPOs, and this year’s event will again seek to benefit local community and church-based organisations, who are encouraged to contact festival organisers to explore ways in which they can participate in and benefit from the festival.

Port Festival poster, appearing in Africa PORTS & SHIPS Maritime NewsSCHEDULE OF EVENTS

 

  • SA Navy vessel open to public
  • Two days of main-stage music, including live jazz, school choirs, local musicians and a tailored programme by the ever-popular Centrestage performers
  • Performance by the Kaapse Klopse
  • Fireworks display
  • Quality craft market
  • Street and artisan food fair
  • Anything-that-Floats competition, to benefit the local SPCA
  • Harbour racing, including paddle- and jet-ski racing, rowing regattas, yacht racing, hard bottom and rubber duck racing
  • Sea and air rescue demonstrations
  • Maritime exhibition, including careers expo
  • Tug rides
  • Beer Garden
  • Children’s entertainment arena
  • International Seafarers Day (Sunday)

For more information on the above events, or to find out how your organisation can get involved, contact Terry Taylor of the TNPA Port Festival Organising Committee on 043 700 2446 or 083 284 1786. Also visit the Port Festival Facebook page (Port Festival East London)

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GENERAL NEWS REPORTS – UPDATED THROUGH THE DAY

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EXPECTED SHIP ARRIVALS and SHIPS IN PORT


Port Louis – Indian Ocean gateway port

Ports & Ships publishes regularly updated SHIP MOVEMENT reports including ETAs for ports extending from West Africa to South Africa to East Africa and including Port Louis in Mauritius.

In the case of South Africa’s container ports of Durban, Ngqura, Ports Elizabeth and Cape Town links to container Stack Dates are also available.

You can access this information, including the list of ports covered, by going HERE remember to use your BACKSPACE to return to this page.

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CRUISE NEWS AND NAVAL ACTIVITIES


QM2 in Cape Town. Picture by Ian Shiffman

We publish news about the cruise industry here in the general news section.

Naval News

Similarly you can read our regular Naval News reports and stories here in the general news section.

PICS OF THE DAY : YU PENG

Yu Peng y Keith Betts

training ship YU PENG in Durban. Pictures by Keith Betts, appearing in Africa PORTS & SHIPS Maritime News
Yu Peng. Pictures: Keith Betts

Always expect the unexpected! That axiom was again shown to be relevant this week with the arrival in port at Durban of the floating academy ship on her maiden voyage to South Africa, YU PENG (29,775-dwt, built 2016), which is owned and operated by the Dalian Maritime University in China. Carrying a crew of 115 including cadets, the ship is a working cargo vessel on which students will receive practical as well as theoretical instruction. The 199.8-metre YU PENG is owned by Dalian Maritime University and is China’s most advanced cruise training ship. The university was founded in 1909 and also owns and operates the training ship YU KUN.

On board for this voyage, which started at the port of Dalian, are 87 graduating students. The ship also carried four class 45 diesel-electric locomotives and other equipment produced by China’s rolling-stock maker CRRC Corp Ltd for Transnet Freight Rail – this is the second batch of four of this class of locomotive to arrive in the country.

The ship proceeded to a berth at the Point to begin discharging the locomotives and other working cargo. Yu Peng has already called at the port of Richards Bay before arriving in Durban. She is due to sail later today for the outer anchorage and will re-enter port on 25 June for a berth at Bulk Connections on the Bluff for an anticipated period of between 24 and 36 hours. These pictures of the ship arriving are by Keith Betts

 

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

“To myself I am only a child playing on the beach, while vast oceans of truth lie undiscovered before me.”
― Isaac Newton

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