TODAY’S BULLETIN OF MARITIME NEWS
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NEWS UPDATE (Thursday 6pm)
TRANSNET ISSUES STATEMENT ON DISRUPTIONS ON THE RICHARDS BAY COAL LINE
Transnet says that it has experienced interruptions to operations on the Richards Bay Coal Line as a result of violent community protests that are taking place in certain areas of KwaZulu-Natal.
The protests relate to community demands for jobs and business opportunities. As a result of the disruptions, Transnet has been forced to suspend coal line operations, affecting service to customers and causing potential losses to the South African economy.
The Richard’s Bay Coal Line is the country’s dedicated railway line which handles South Africa’s coal exports by connecting the mines in Mpumalanga with the Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) at the port of Richards Bay. The line also moves domestic commodities such as chrome, coke, chemicals and timber.
Transnet says in a statement that it is working closely with customers to ensure minimal disruption. “We have deployed security in the affected areas and are working with relevant authorities to safeguard our employees, infrastructure and the assets of our customers.
“Transnet wishes to appeal to communities to desist from destroying infrastructure as such activities pose a huge risk to the sustainability of the South African economy, including loss of lives due to train derailments and job losses.”
The company says it is open to engaging with relevant parties with a view to finding a common solution to the challenges.
- First View : BRIGHT HORIZON
- Kenya to issue new tender for Mombasa’s second container terminal
- Changing the way ports are planned and developed
- Odfjell to drill offshore of South Africa for Total
- Decline in African piracy but experts warn of complacency
- UAE aims at gaining membership of the IMO Council
- Boskalis takes new mega Cutter Suction Dredger Helios into service
- Port closed for a meeting!
- PRESS RELEASES: The Nautical Institute launches Ice Navigator Scheme
- PRESS RELEASES: CSSC launches new marine service business
- Expected Ship Arrivals and Ships in Port
- Cruise News and Naval Activities
- Pics of the Day : MAERSK CALABAR
SEND NEWS REPORTS AND PRESS RELEASES TO
info@africaports.co.za
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This photograph of MACS general cargo/container vessel BRIGHT HORIZON (30,538-dwt) was taken in January this year with the ship in Cape Town. The ship, the former CAPE DENISON and PACIFIC DESTINY, is owned and managed by Vinetta Schiffahrtsbeteiligungs of Hamburg in Germany and has been under charter with MACS Maritime Carrier Shipping GmbH & Co on two occasions. MACS line is also based in Hamburg and maintains a second main office in Cape Town. The ship was built in 2002 at Dalian Shipyard in Dalian, China and is self geared with a container capacity for 1829 TEU including 150 reefer containers. The 193-metre long Bright Horizon and another MACS ship, RED CEDAR, are sister vessels. This picture is by Ian Shiffman
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KENYA TO ISSUE NEW TENDER FOR MOMBASA SECOND CONTAINER TERMINAL
The Kenya government is preparing a fresh tender for a concessionaire to manage and operate the second container terminal at the Port of Mombasa.
Phase 1 of the second container terminal was completed last year and the appointment of a concessionaire to run this was cancelled earlier this year due to claims of irregularities and disputes among potential tenderers.
According to Kenya’s Treasury secretary, Henry Rotich, the state will…[restrict] shortly issue new tender documents for a concessionaire to operate the new terminal, phase 1. “The first attempt was coupled with claims and complaints so we will have to redo it,” Rotich told Kenya’s Business Daily.”
The Port of Mombasa last year handled just over one million container TEUs as part of the 27.36 million tonnes of cargo for the year 2016. The new terminal has a 900-metre long quay with three berths and has a container capacity of 550,000 TEUs annually.
DP World was considered to be the most likely operator to be appointed with last year’s cancelled tender. The Kenya government has since stressed that it is not favouring anyone and that 12 potential operators have been identified.
One of these is thought to be Transnet Port Terminals of South Africa.
Japan, which is deeply involved with infrastructure development in Kenya has also expressed a strong interest in a Japanese interest in operating the terminal. The second terminal is currently being operated by the Kenya Ports Authority, which also operates the original container terminal at the port. However, the government has expressed its desire for a privately operated terminal to improve efficiencies at the port.
The port of Mombasa acts as the main gateway not only for Kenya but also a number of neighbouring landlocked countries, among them Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan.[/restrict]
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CHANGING THE WAY PORTS ARE PLANNED AND DEVELOPED
Top transport lawyer and master mariner, Malcolm Hartwell, says a booming population, rapid urbanisation and the need for sustainable development, are changing the way ports are planned and developed.
As entry and end points, ports need to evolve as trade and cargo volumes to and from cities continue to grow. Port development, against the backdrop of Operation Phakisa, will be driven by bigger vessels, broader carrier alliances, container capacity consolidation and larger hub and spoke networks. These will change costs and the way profits are generated from operations.
Hartwell says port operators must question how they going to manage increased investment with demands for improved productivity and higher service levels. We need to drop the current linear approach (simply increasing size and scale) for a circular approach. Port operators of the future will need to be highly IT-savvy (using cloud-based networks, for example, to connect with partners and process huge amounts of data) and vessels will need to be constantly and reliably connected to the internet.
In the port of the future, transhipment hubs will play a critical role, carrier vessel networks will be more advanced, as will tools to integrate vessel terminal and port data to help carriers and terminals optimise the assets utilisation and reliability. Various processes will be automated.
Hartwell also says we need a “productivity quantum leap” at container terminals. Computing power, new technology and interfaces and shared data will be essential.
He believes Africa – and South Africa – is the place for investors for the foreseeable future. “South Africa is ideally placed with its existing port infrastructure and intellectual capacity to be the leading hub into Africa and to be a leader and investor in ports in the rest of the continent since Africa hopefully will need more than one major hub at its bottom end.
“We need to be competitive and invest heavily in capacity and assets. There has to be a move towards holistic planning of ports and sustainable cities.”
* Malcolm Hartwell is Director and Master Mariner at Norton Rose Fulbright
Now read Captain Malcolm Hartwell’s article in full in our FEATURES column – GO HERE
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ODJFELL TO DRILL OFFSHORE OF SOUTH AFRICA FOR TOTAL
The Norwegian drilling company Odfjell Drilling says that it has been awarded the contract to drill a new offshore well off South Africa on behalf of oil company Total E&P South Africa.
This is confirmation of an earlier conditional letter of award (‘CLOA’) announced in March this year, which said the well would be…[restrict] drilled by the 6th generation semi-submersible, DEEPSEA STAVANGER, about 110 miles offshore the South African coast in the Outeniqua Basin off the southern Cape coast.
Total holds a 50% stake in Block 11B/12B with CNR International, a subsidiary of Canadian Natural Resources Ltd, where it is the operator.
The drilling of the well would take between 60 and 80 days.
The contract is to commence between June 2018 and April 2019 at a date to be announced. It will be back to back with completion of the Deepsea Stavanger’s ongoing contract with Wintershall Norge on the Maria field which is about 200 kilometres from Kristiansund, Norway.
The South African contract value including compensation for mobilisation /demobilisation period is estimated up to US$55 million. The company expects the drilling of the firm well to take 60-80 days.
CEO Simen Lieungh said that Odfjell Drilling was very pleased to receive this sign of commitment and confidence. “The companies have collaborated closely on this challenging project for many months and believe together we have a technical and operational solution to meet the unique combination of harsh environment conditions encountered on site,” he said.
“This project with its technical complexities, deepwater and harsh environment is considered an ideal match for Odfjell Drilling as we strengthen our position as contractor of choice for challenging harsh environments.”[/restrict]
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DECLINE IN AFRICAN PIRACY BUT EXPERTS WARN OF COMPLACENCY
Although a continuing decline is being reported in the number of acts of piracy, specialists in the field warn of complacency being allowed to creep in.
According to the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) of the International Chamber of Commerce, representing 137 member countries and territories, a total of 87 incidents were reported in the first six months of this year, ten down from the 97 reported for the same period in 2016.
Of these 87 incidents 63 vessels were boarded by pirates or robbers, 12 ships were…[restrict] actually fired on, four ships were highjacked and unsuccessful attempts were made to board another eight.
Ominously, 63 crew members have been taken hostage so far in 2017, while 41 have been kidnapped from their vessels, and three injured and two killed.
Many of these incidents occurred in South East Asia waters – the seas off the Horn of Africa experienced sporadic incidents while the Gulf of Guinea continues to be an area of concern. A number of attacks on ships in the Gulf of Guinea go unreported.
Somali pirates remain a threat
The hijacking of an Indian dhow in early April was one of five incidents off Somalia reported in the second quarter of 2017, says the IMB. Added to a further three reports of vessels coming under fire and a bulk carrier being boarded by pirates in the Gulf of Aden, the incident reveals that Somali pirates still retain the skills and capacity to attack merchant ships far from coastal waters. The piracy report urges ship masters to maintain high levels of vigilance when transiting the high-risk area and to adhere to the latest version of best management practices.
An independent observer told Africa PORTS & SHIPS that while reports of piracy in the Red Sea/Gulf of Aden have been received, a lot of it can be ascribed to hysteria by passing crews. UKMTO (United Kingdom Marine Trade Operations) meanwhile believes that armed people on board multiple skiffs is probably a fact of local life in the region, and that few of these reportings have actually resulted in attacks on vessels.
Piracy off the coast of Africa is dominated by pirate activity in Nigeria when it comes to the matter of kidnappings. So far this year Nigerian pirates have been responsible for the abduction of 31 crew in five reported incidents. The numbers include 14 crew members taken from two separate vessels in the second quarter of the year. Violence against crews continues with half of all reports of vessels being fired upon coming from Nigeria.
The IMB says that recognising the need to get a clearer understanding of the depth of under-reporting in the Gulf of Guinea region, the IMB in association with Oceans Beyond Piracy, has proposed the idea of a ‘Community of Reporting’ – a project aimed at encouraging all stakeholders to share reports of piracy and armed robbery with the IMB.[/restrict]
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UAE AIMS AT GAINING MEMBERSHIP OF THE IMO COUNCIL
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has set its sights on gaining membership to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council, the international agency responsible for shipping laws, maritime safety and navigation conventions.
According to the TradeArabia News Service the decision to run for membership of the Council falls in line with the UAE’s role as a major player in the international maritime sector, backed by its leading position on ports management and global position as among the top three countries in terms of quality in port infrastructure.
The report quoted Dr Abdullah Bin Mohammed Balheif Al Nuaimi, minister of Infrastructure Development and chairman of the Board of Directors of the Federal Transport Authority for Land and Maritime, as saying that…[restrict] the UAE has strong competitive advantages to compete with the developed countries in the marine industry and to become a member of the International Maritime Organization in the second category which comprises 10 countries with major interests in international maritime trade.
He pointed out that the country aspires to become a member of the second category to be able to continue its influential role in upgrading the international maritime system and enhance the growth of international maritime trade by leveraging on its experience as incubator for 20 of the world’s major ports.
The UAE has aspirations of joining category B of membership.
The IMO Council consists of three categories. Category A consists of 10 states with the largest interest in providing international shipping services. They are China, Greece, Italy, Japan, Norway, Panama, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, United Kingdom, United States.
Category B, which the UAE says it wishes to be a part of, consists of 10 states, those with the largest interest in international seaborne trade: Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden.
Category C consists of 20 States not elected under (a) or (b) above, which have special interests in maritime transport or navigation and whose election to the Council will ensure the representation of all major geographic areas of the world: Australia, Bahamas, Belgium, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Indonesia, Kenya, Liberia, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey.
According to Dr Al Nuaimi, the UAE’s advanced infrastructure is at the forefront of the factors that make the country a strong competitor. He emphasised that this is the result of the unlimited support given by the country’s leaders to translate the objectives of the UAE Vision 2021 of building an integrated infrastructure to guarantee the continuity of sustainable development. He pointed out that the UAE leads the sector among the Arab countries and ranks within the top three worldwide in the quality of ports and sixth in international port infrastructure, according to the World Competitiveness Report of the World Economic Forum for 2016.
“The UAE has built itself a position within the maritime transport sector, based on its ambitious plans to develop world-class seaports and berths, and to ensure the operation, maintenance and construction of vessels, dry basins, finance and insurance in line with the highest global safety standards. The relentless national efforts have resulted in outstanding results in terms of compliance with the principles of maritime management, and exceeding the standards of the world’s leading shipping centres.”[/restrict]
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BOSKALIS TAKES NEW MEGA CUTTER SUCTION DREDGER HELIOS INTO SERVICE
Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. (Boskalis) has announced that the mega cutter HELIOS was named and christened during a festive ceremony in the port of Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Helios is the largest and most powerful cutter suction dredger Boskalis has ever developed.
The self-propelled Helios is 152 metres long and has a breadth of 28 metres and is able to dredge at depths of 6 to 35 metres. With a total…[restrict] installed power of almost 24,000 kW, a total pumping capacity of 15,600 kW and a maximum cutter power of 7,000 kW, Helios is one of the most powerful cutter suction dredgers in the dredging industry. The vessel was developed to dredge in extremely hard ground. The cutter ladder weighs 2,060 tons, making it the heaviest in the world.
The vessel can accommodate a crew of 45 and so Helios can operate around the world in the most remote locations. Helios will be deployed for dredging activities related to the development of the port of Duqm in Oman. A sister vessel of Helios is expected to be taken into service in the course of 2020.
Visit HERE for a video about the construction of the Helios.
About Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V.
Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. operates in the dredging, maritime infrastructure and maritime services sectors and offers a wide variety of marine services and contracting for the oil and gas sector and offshore wind industry as well as salvage solutions (SMIT Salvage).
In addition, Boskalis has a number of strategic partnerships in harbour towage and terminal services (KOTUG SMIT Towage, Keppel Smit Towage, Saam Smit Towage and Smit Lamnalco). With a versatile fleet of more than 900 vessels and floating equipment and 11,700 employees, including associated companies, Boskalis operates in 90 countries across six continents.[/restrict]
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Are there other ports around the world, especially large and strategically important national ports claiming to be among the biggest and busiest on a continent, that issue notices such as this one which was sent to us yesterday (Wednesday 5 July)?
“Good morning
“Please note port [Durban] is closed due to port meeting which started at 06:00. Agents who are affected with the delay will be informed as soon as the meeting is over.”
How long the port remained closed for shipping is not clear, but this is not the first time such notices have appeared – it appears to be quite a regular affair. What was so important about the meeting that it couldn’t have been handled by shop stewards, or in batches as the shifts changed without disrupting the work of an economically embattled nation, we wonder? Ja wel no fine, this is Africa – just close the port!
As if that was not enough, this morning (Thursday) just as we were going to publication a further notice was distributed, saying that yet another meeting is taking place and that the port is closed [AGAIN] and will be “non-operational” between 06:00 and 08:00.
“We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused and will service the vessels as soon as we can.”
UPDATE:
By 09:30 this morning (Thursday) the ‘meeting’ was over but the port remained closed to shipping, as the pilots are now having their own meeting!
FURTHER UPDATE 09:40 Thursday
Notice issued on 5 July and addressed to “Dear Valued Client” and signed by the port manager, Moshe Motlohi advises the following:
TRANSNET NATIONAL PORTS AUTHORITY WELLNESS DAY
Please note that the TNPA Port of Durban will be hosting Wellness Day on the 7th July 2017 [tomorrow] for its employees and as such here could be interruptions to operations.
We will however endeavor to ensure continuity.
(signed) Moshe Motlohi, Port Manager: Port of Durban
That will be Day 3 of disruptions. Are we alone in thinking that the ports are there to serve the clients, i.e. cargo owners and their respective agents, and not their employees?
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The Nautical Institute launches Ice Navigator Scheme
The Nautical Institute today (Wednesday 5 July) launched the Ice Navigator Training and Certification Scheme. This is the latest in the Institute’s expanding series of professional training schemes and has been developed in response to rapidly growing demand for officers with proven expertise in handling ships in ice.
While the Scheme is designed to complement IMO’s Polar Code, course content is not restricted to the Polar regions, and it expands on the minimum requirements of STCW. The focus is on actual shiphandling and operation of vessels in ice-covered waters worldwide.
The Scheme is open to those who hold, or are studying towards, a deck officer qualification awarded by a White List administration. Participants must demonstrate practical competence on board and in simulator exercises, and show a thorough understanding of ice regimes, including ice physics, operations in sea ice, hazards, search and rescue and weather.
Under ‘grandfathering’ arrangements, a participant who can prove they have prior experience in ice may be eligible for the award of either a Level 1 or Level 2 Ice Navigator Certificate.
Training providers that offer the NI’s Ice Navigator Scheme courses must be fully accredited to The Nautical Institute’s rigorous Training Accreditation Standard. All training centres are audited to ensure consistency of delivery around the world and to ensure that they meet the highest professional standards.
Award of an NI Ice Navigator Level 1 or Level 2 certificate means the officer will possess an internationally recognised qualification, valid for five years, demonstrating they have the competence and confidence to navigate safely in ice anywhere within the limits of their CoC.
Speaking on the occasion of the launch, Captain Duke Snider FNI, President of The Nautical Institute (pictured), said: “Operating ships within any ice regime requires specialist knowledge, skills and a level of awareness beyond those of the majority of mariners. This course will help to equip ships’ officers to meet the unique challenges posed by navigating in ice. Those who hold the NI Ice Navigator Certificate will be able to prove their ice-readiness to potential employers worldwide.”
The Nautical Institute has a strong track record in providing best practice guidance for operations in ice, including Polar Ship Operations, by NI President Duke Snider FNI and Handling Ships in Ice, by Johan Buysse. New editions of both books are currently in preparation.
For more information please contact Bridget Hogan, Director of Publishing and Marketing, The Nautical Institute +44 (0)20 7928 1351, bh@nautinst.org
CSSC launches new marine service business with state of the art logistics centre
China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) this week formally launched a new business CSSC Marine Service Co, Ltd, to coincide with the inauguration of their new logistic centre within the Yangshang free trade zone, Shanghai.
The inauguration was marked with a ceremony on 30 June 2017, attended by over 150 industry representatives from leading shipowning, managing and operating companies along with key cooperation partners ABB, MAN PrimServ and WinGD.
Able to accommodate over 20,000 kinds of original small parts including fuel injection equipment, piston rings, pipes, flaps and valves, and large parts such as cylinder liners, covers and piston crowns. The third party operated centre forms phase one of an overall project for CSSC Marine Service Co, Ltd.
Covering 9000m2, the warehouse and distribution facility includes quality assurance monitoring and a state of the art warehouse management system with a light identification system that will enable speedy picking, packing and delivery of parts.
CSSC Marine Service Co, Ltd was established earlier this year to facilitate lifecycle services and flexible solutions to the entire CSSC product portfolio. This new logistics centre is the first step to enable quicker responses to customer needs. With future plans for expansion of the current represented service centres in Hamburg, Athens, Singapore, Houston and Dubai, which in total will see six strategic service hubs and 28 service stations worldwide by 2020.
Andrew Stump, President, CSSC Marine Service Co, Ltd (pictured), commented: “In the future CSSC Service will manage parts, field service and warranty for all CSSC manufactured products. There will be a particularly strong focus on Low Speed main engine and medium speed auxiliary engines from brands manufactured by CSSC. Our logistics centre will act as the hub for our global distribution network with the aim to be capable and efficient in the delivery of key engine components on a global scale. We know this will take time and energy to ensure we are in the right places to support the vessels needs, but we are confident that our young, exciting and energetic team will progress very quickly”.
About CSSC Marine Service Co, Ltd
CSSC Marine Service Co, Ltd registered in Yangshan Free Trade Port Area, Shanghai, China, on 23 January 2017 with a capital of one billion RMB and is a new subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC). A joint investment by China Shipbuilding Power Engineering Institute Co, Ltd CSSC Marine Power Co, Ltd, Anqing CSSC Diesel Engine Co, Ltd and China Shipbuilding Trading Co, Ltd with ratio of shareholding of 65%,20%,10% and 5%.
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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.
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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.
PIC OF THE DAY : MAERSK CALABAR
One of the things that has always piqued interest among those less familiar with the sea and countries and peoples of far-away foreign lands, has been the exotic sounding names of ships that encourage thoughts of adventure, wonder and exploration. Perhaps with today’s modern, instant world filled by apps and instant gratification, such mysterious sounding names as MAERSK CALABAR no longer arouse the interest of the young and impressionable? Be that as it may, the very name is enough to make at least one other person still curious about where Calabar is and what it looks like – long may the shipping companies continue to name their ships so evocatively.
The 62,557-dwt Maersk Calabar as one such example was photographed entering the Durban port channel during June this year. The Singapore-flagged ship is 249 metres long and 37.4 metres wide and has a container capacity of 4,500 TEU – a lightweight really but nevertheless designed for a specific trade. The ship was built in 2011 at the Hyundai Heavy Industries Ltd Co, in South Korea as their hull number 2340. This picture is by Trevor Jones
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
“Each person has got a voice inside them. Communicate with it and take hold of it. Do not let it push and shove you around – you are its master!”
― Stephen Richards
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