TODAY’S BULLETIN OF MARITIME NEWS
Click on headline to go direct to story : use the BACK key to return
- First View : MSC MARS
- SA Port Statistics for June are now available
- Global Petroleum completes 2D seismic shoot in Namibia
- Transnet suspends senior officials after audit
- An Ocean of Choice: MSC Cruises offer the ultimate horizon
- SAMSA launches E.Cape Youth Development Programme
- INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Yildirim to sell off CMA CGM stock
- INTERNATIONAL NEWS: More interest in autonomous ships
- INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Messina Line founder dies
- PRESS RELEASES: Bureau Veritas launches ‘My BWMP’
- Expected Ship Arrivals and Ships in Port
- Cruise News and Naval Activities
- Pics of the Day : ALMERE
SEND NEWS REPORTS AND PRESS RELEASES TO
info@africaports.co.za
News continues below
This ship’s origins seem obvious give the huge Hyundai signage along the hull, although the name on her bows has a different story – MSC MARS. The 188,000-dwt ship, capable of carrying up to 10,055 TEUs when fully loaded is seen at Durban Container Terminal’s North Quay. Built in 2016 at the Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Ltd shipyard in South Korea and owned by UK interests and managed by Zodiac Maritime Ltd, she was until recently operated by Hyundai Merchant Marine, who, ironically, were a short while ago negotiating to join the 2M Alliance of Maersk and MSC. That bid was unsuccessful and now one of ‘their’ ships is sailing for MSC – such are the fast-moving interactions taking place in the shipping industry. MSC Mars is 324 metres in length and 48m wide and has a summer draught of 15.5 metres – too much for Durban at present were she to be fully loaded. This picture is by Trevor Jones
News continues below
SA PORT STATISTICS FOR JUNE ARE NOW AVAILABLE
Port statistics for the month of June 2017, covering the eight commercial ports under the administration of Transnet National Ports Authority, are now available.
Total cargo handled at all eight ports during the past month amounted to 24.264 million tons, compared with the previous month (May 2017) when 22.031 million tons of cargo was handled, reflecting a significant increase in throughput month on month. The port of Richards Bay recorded…[restrict] high volumes of cargo for the month, mostly coal for export, achieving 9.392 million tons of cargo in June, all products, compared with 8.001 in May. The Port of Durban handled 6.485 million tons, an improvement on the 5.592mt achieved in May. The Port of Saldanha was down on throughput compared with the previous month – 4.996mt in June whereas in May the port experienced high volumes achieving 7.472mt. One month earlier in April the port handled 4.653mt, showing fluctuations at the iron ore export port.
Container volumes nationally were 392,904 TEU handled compared with 354,829 TEU in May – a welcome increase for this sector.
For detailed comparison with the previous May (2016) figures please go HERE; use your BACKSPACE button to return to this page.
These statistical reports on africa PORTS & SHIPS are arrived at using an adjustment on the overall tonnage compared to those kindly provided by Transnet. This is to include containers by weight; an adjustment necessary because Transnet NPA measures containers by the number of TEUs and does not reflect the weight which unfortunately undervalues the ports.
To arrive at such a calculation, PORTS & SHIPS uses an average of 13.5 tonnes per TEU, which probably does involve some under-reporting. PORTS & SHIPS will continue to emphasise this distinction, without which South African ports would be seriously under-reported internationally and locally.
Port Statistics continue below
Figures for the respective ports during June 2017 are:
Cargo handled by tonnes during June 2017, including containers by weight
| PORT | June 2017 million tonnes |
| Richards Bay | 9.392 |
| Durban | 6.485 |
| Saldanha Bay | 4.996 |
| Cape Town | 1.251 |
| Port Elizabeth | 1.091 |
| Ngqura | 0.737 |
| Mossel Bay | 0.130 |
| East London | 0.182 |
| Total all ports | 24.264 million tonnes |
CONTAINERS (measured by TEUs) during June 2017
(TEUs include Deepsea, Coastal, Transship and empty containers all subject to being invoiced by NPA
| PORT | June 2017 TEUs |
| Durban | 244,187 |
| Cape Town | 69,652 |
| Port Elizabeth | 16,399 |
| Ngqura | 54,595 |
| East London | 6,811 |
| Richards Bay | 1,260 |
| Total all ports | 392,904 TEU |
SHIP CALLS for May 2017
| PORT | May 2017 vessels | gross tons |
| Durban | 275 | 10,505,743 |
| Cape Town | 186 | 4,652,585 |
| Richards Bay | 176 | 7,131,453 |
| Port Elizabeth | 80 | 2,611,144 |
| Saldanha Bay | 52 | 3,427,312 |
| Ngqura | 38 | 2,805,491 |
| East London | 29 | 980,239 |
| Mossel Bay | 40 | 173,340 |
| Total ship calls | 876 | 32,287,307 |
— source TNPA, with adjustments made by africa Ports & Ships to include container tonnages [/restrict]
News continues below
GLOBAL PETROLEUM COMPLETES 2D SEISMIC SHOOT IN NAMIBIA
Oil and gas exploration company Global Petroleum announced yesterday that it has completed the 2D seismic acquisition programme in the Company’s operated block (PEL 0029) in Namibia.
The survey – comprising 834 km of full fold 2D seismic data – was carried out by Seabird Exploration of Norway, and shooting…[restrict] took only 10 days, completing on 3rd July 2017. The total cost of the acquisition is approximately US$740,000, excluding processing.
Processing of the acquired data is about to commence and is expected to be finalised around the end of September 2017. Initial examination of the high quality raw data confirms the extremely large extent of the Gemsbok prospect in the south east of the block.
Following processing and interpretation of the data Global Petroleum will determine its plans for the next phase of exploration.
Global’s Licence PEL 0029, in which the Company hold an 85% interest and operatorship, covers Offshore Blocks 1910B and 2010A in the Republic of Namibia. The Gemsbok prospect is located at a total depth of around 3,000 metres – in water depths of approximately 1,400 metres.
Global Petroleum has its primary listing on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) with a secondary listing on the AIM Market of the London Stock Exchange (AIM). As an upstream exploration company Global is presently focused on Africa and the Mediterranean.[/restrict]
News continues below
TRANSNET SUSPENDS SENIOR OFFICIALS AFTER AUDIT
Transnet announced yesterday that it has suspended senior officials after external auditors identified “reportable irregularities” to their regulatory body.
“Transnet’s external auditors submitted a report of reportable irregularities to the Independent Regulatory Boards of Auditors (IRBA), in line with their professional obligations.”
The irregularities relate to non-compliance and non-adherence to…[restrict] stipulated internal procurement processes and requirements of law in procurement contracts entered into between Transnet and various service providers by a number of senior officials.
Transnet says a probe is now underway. The Transnet Board has 30 days to indicate to the external auditors of steps taken to mitigate the risks identified.
“The affected senior officials have been suspended, legal action has been taken where appropriate, and disciplinary actions are underway. Transnet is no longer using the affected suppliers and all payments have been put on hold until finalisation of the legal investigation, where monies will be recovered, including interest and legal costs.”
The Transnet admission follows a day after another state-owned entity, power utility Eskom said its auditors had raised similar issues with the Independent Regulatory Boards of Auditors.
It also follows a series of email leaks in which the amaBhungane Centre for Investigative Journalism reported a R5.3 billion kickback commission paid to Gupta family associates in regard to the awarding of Transnet locomotives to a Chinese company.
Optimisation of Transnet non-core property portfolio
A day before the above unfolded, on Tuesday (11 July), Transnet issued a statement saying that it has taken note of the Democratic Alliance’s (DA’s) statement relating to the company’s Request for Proposals (RFP) for the optimisation of its property portfolio.
According to Transnet the DA’s statement left the impression that there is a R40 billion business opportunity which is incorrect, says Transnet, saying that the property portfolio is actually valued at R4.1 billion.
“The property portfolio is not for sale. The optimisation process relates to investigating ways to enhance returns on its non-core property portfolio,” Transnet said.
The statement added that Transnet’s core portfolio, which is valued at R25.9 billion, is solely for supporting the company’s core operations and is not part of the tender. Any disposal of property would be subject to board and ministerial approval.[/restrict]
News continues below
AN OCEAN OF CHOICE: MSC CRUISES OFFER THE ULTIMATE HORIZON
It’s mid winter, but the cruise season is but a few months away and this is the time to turn to thoughts of sun-drenched island beaches, palm trees, and your cruise ship nearby and awaiting your return.
Just imagine – the ocean breeze, the sweeping sea views, the mesmerising sound of gently lapping waters, the glitz, the glamour, the heightened romanticism and the sheer pleasure of life on board while you’re heading towards unimagined beauty … those aren’t the only allures of cruising. Perhaps, more than anything, the true allure of cruising is the ocean of choice.
And in this region of none have perfected it more than MSC Cruises, the world’s largest privately-owned cruise line and brand market leader in Europe, South America and South Africa.
“Time and time again our guests tell us how much they love the comfort of cruising, the simplicity of it, and how every cruise is an utterly unique experience. There’s so much choice within our offerings, we’re told it’s like candy for the soul.” says MSC Cruises South Africa Managing Director Ross Volk.
Ask yourself what you want, and you shall have it. A two night weekend getaway? MSC Cruises specialises in ‘nowhere weekend cruises’ from both Durban and Cape Town. These popular weekend getaways are the perfect escape for those who need a little downtime on calm waters.
Need a longer break? In our local waters, you can book a breezy escape with MSC Cruises for up to 11 nights. Internationally, if you’re ready for some major bucket-list fulfilment, you could even embark on a once-in-a-lifetime, life-long dream, 119-day MSC World Cruise that crosses six continents, and calls at 49 unique destinations in 32 countries.
When it comes to destinations, MSC Cruises always heads for the dreamiest of places, and with 46 cruises in the 2017/18 South African summer season, MSC Cruises promises more than ever before.
Mozambique’s Pomene is the newest sun-kissed darling on South Africa’s MSC Cruise calendar. Take a ride with MSC and step onto Pomene’s astonishingly white sands in style, where blue lagoons, unexplored coral reefs, and fairy-tale-like mangroves lie in wait.
And then there’s always Mozambique’s ever-in-demand, Caribbean-esque, Inhaca Archipelago. Portuguese Island is a small, enchanting, uninhabited island just six kilometres long, where you can dip into the warm, crystalline ocean waters, find secluded bays, lay in the sun undisturbed, or dance and play volleyball and eat to your heart’s content.
Or you could cruise a little further afield and float by the haunting beauty of the Skeleton Coast on a voyage to Walvis Bay. Embraced by the spectacular Namib Desert, and rich in marine and bird life, Walvis Bay is one of Namibia’s gems of outstanding natural beauty. Indulge in Walvis Bay oysters, take in the architecture, delight in the abundance of seabirds, or make the most of Namibia’s extreme sports capital and leap into adventures like quad-biking, dune buggy racing, and sandboarding.
Of course no-one could resist the explosion of nature that moves from pure white tropical beaches to mountainous lush forests, peppered with bold architectural works and a variety of cultures on the island of Réunion. Or the inescapable luxury of Mauritius’ capital Port Louis.
And those are just the destinations. The abundance of food, entertainment, and activities on board are legendry – even amongst those who have never cruised before – but what most people don’t realise, Ross Volk tells us, is that MSC guests are able to tailor their on board experience far more than they realise.
“We have couples who come for a secluded romantic getaway, guests who party sunup and sundown, families that grab all the fun they can share, people who are on a health-kick or an indulgent fest of me-time … and they’re all on the same cruise. There is more than enough space, enough choice, and an ocean of freedom to make your holiday exactly what your heart desires.”
And if all this sounds like it might be out of your budget, give yourself a pleasant surprise and check out the package deals available on www.msccruises.co.za – you’d be hard-pressed to find such a rich and wild experience in a land-based holiday for the same value.
Perhaps that’s the best choice of all.
Here’s looking forward to the return of the cruise season!
News continues below
SAMSA LAUNCHES EASTERN CAPE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
The Eastern Cape Premier, Phumulo Masualle, supported by the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA), will be launching the Eastern Cape Provincial Maritime Youth Development Programme tomorrow (Friday 14 July).
Earlier this year, in his fourth State of the Province Address (SoPA), Premier Masualle outlined the provincial economic outlook on the backdrop of the subdued national economic and increasingly constrained fiscal outlook.
In response to the high unemployment rate which is currently outpacing economic growth, with women and youth the most impacted, the Eastern Cape Government developed the…[restrict] Provincial Economic Development Strategy based on six key economic sectors on which the province has a comparative advantage.
These are namely agricultural development, oceans economy, tourism, renewable energy, light manufacturing as well as the automotive industry – all seen as potential catalysts for the Eastern Cape’s economic turnaround and transformation.
To this end the Office of the Premier (OTP) has partnered with SAMSA to implement the Maritime Youth Development Programme which seeks to expose young persons to opportunities in the Oceans Economy and has targeted 150 unemployed youth with grade 12 and with no skills for training in
- Life & work skills
- Training youth in swimming
- Basic competence for training as ‘seamen’ and ‘seawomen’
Out of the 130 youth from Port St. John’s, Ingquza Hill, Nyandeni, Mbizana and Buffalo City, 50 successful candidates will be issued with Seaman Books/SCTW Certificates and provided with opportunities for employment in the maritime industry starting with placement on international cruise liners.
“Our plans, our dreams, and our wishes hinge on our economy performing optimally. It is for this reason that we are prioritising the transformation of the economy to create jobs and sustainable livelihoods,” says Premier Masualle.
Sobantu Tilayi, Chief Operating Officer of the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) welcomed the support from the Office of the Premier for the MYDP program which he said was important for growing the maritime sector in skills development and training.
“South Africa has a youth unemployment rate that is reaching critical levels [48%]. Although there are various institutions and initiatives that exist in both the private and public sector, there is a stubbornly high level of unemployment amongst youth in the country, particularly in informal settlements or peri-urban areas.
“The objective of the MYDP is therefore to attract youth to the maritime sector while making an immediate positive impact on their lives and their communities in a substantive way. This programme is about making real change to youth and their communities,” Tilayi added.
The format of the Launch of the Eastern Cape Maritime Youth Development Program will be multi-stakeholder dialogue session and will be broadcast live on radio. The venue is SA AGULHAS, Quigney sector of the East London port, at 08h00.[/restrict]
News continues below
INTERNATIONAL NEWS: YILDIRIM TO SELL OFF CMA CGM STOCK
It is being widely reported that Turkey’s Yildirim Holding wants to sell off the 24% stake it has in French container line company, CMA CGM.
Readers will recall that Yildirim came to the aid of the French line several years ago when things were tough and CMA CGM faced the real prospect of being broken up. That injection, and display of trust in the French company, plus restructuring, helped CMA CGM turn…[restrict] the corner since when they have become stronger and more influential in the shipping sector.
Now it seems that Yildirim, headed by Robert Yuksel Yildirim its chairman, has its eye on buying Ports America Holdings to give it a more meaningful stake among the world’s top ten port terminal operators, and the cash from selling its CMA CGM stake will come in more than useful.
This is not the first time that Yildirim has attempted to remove itself from the deal with CMA CGM – in 2015 it tried to sell its share to the Saade family, who are the founders and principal shareholders in the shipping line, but was unsuccessful.
Yildirim injected US$600 million into CMA CGM between 2010 and 2011 and believes its stock is now worth between $2.5 billion to $3 billion.
Whatever happens to its share in the CMA CGM group, Yildirim’s acquisition of Ports America is likely to be completed by the end of this year.[/restrict]
News continues below
INTERNATIONAL NEWS: MORE INTEREST IN AUTONOMOUS SHIPS
Interest in what is being predicted as the future in shipping continues to grow beyond the development and dreaming stage. Now added interest is being shown by influential shipping operators – the latest is French offshore services company Bourbon Offshore.
Bourbon said this week that it has entered into a MoU with Automated Ships Ltd to support the building of the world’s first autonomous, fully-automated and…[restrict] cost-efficient prototype vessel for offshore operations, in collaboration with the project’s primary technology partner, KONGSBERG.
Called the Hrönn project, it will build the world’s first fully-automated and cost-efficient prototype vessel for offshore operations. Called Hrönn, the vessel will be designed and built in Norway, with the intention of entering service as the world’s first full-size unmanned ship as early as next year.
Automated Ships Ltd has moved away from the original design of Hrönn as a catamaran when it launched the project in 2016, opting instead for a monohulled vessel of steel construction, to provide more payload capacity and greater flexibility in the diverse range of operations.
Bourbon said it is bringing its expertise in building and operating a standardized fleet to provide detailed input to the development and design of the vessel, ensuring flexibility, reliability, and cost efficiency to operate safely and effectively in the demanding offshore environment.
Hrönn will be built as a light-duty, offshore utility ship of 37 metres in length servicing the offshore energy, hydrographic & scientific and offshore fish-farming industries. It would also be utilized as an ROV and AUV support ship and standby vessel, able to provide firefighting support to an offshore platform working in cooperation with manned vessels.[/restrict]
MacGregor and Rolls-Royce – a decade to automated container ships
In other news related to the development of automated shipping, MacGregor, which is already a leader in automated mooring systems, and Rolls-Royce recently…[restrict] signed their own MoU in which they will explore developments in autonomy for cargo ship navigation and cargo systems onboard container ships.
Director of digital and systems at Rolls-Royce, Asbjørn Skaro, as gone on record saying “a remote-controlled ship will be in commercial use by the end of the decade and a common sight on the high seas by 2030.” Oskar Levander, Rolls-Royce, Vice President of Innovation – Marine, said last year, “This is happening. It’s not if, it’s when.
According to Jouni Lehtinen, director of R&D at MacGregor’s cargo handling division, 95% of the required sensor technology, algorithms and communication methods exist already today. He said the major challenges are in systems integrations and process implementations.
“Vessels are full of equipment from various makers and together we need to find ways to handle emerging integration needs,” he said.
Now read this: A decade to autonomous cargo ships?[/restrict]
News continues below
INTERNATIONAL NEWS: MESSINA LINE FOUNDER DIES
Mr Gianfranco Messina (82) of Messina Lines died yesterday morning in Genoa, Italy.
One of Italy’s oldest shipowners, he has had an involvement with the company of Ignazio Messina since the 1960s and was chairman for many years until he and his brother Paolo handed over the reins to the third generation in 2013. He continued to remain active in the company, having a special interest in the more technical aspects of the family shipping line.
Messina Line, which was founded by Gianfranco and Paolo Messina’s father Ignazio Messina, operates a Ro-Ro container and general cargo service between the Mediterranean and East and Southern Africa, with Durban as the southern terminus. Its orange/red-hulled ships are distinctive and instantly recognisable on their regular calls in the Africa ports on the east coast.
Gianfranco’s Messina was the father of Ignazio and Massima who now run the line together with three cousins, Andrea Gais, Stefano and Emanuele Messina.
News continues below
Send your Press Releases here info@africaports.co.za and marked PRESS RELEASE. Provided they are considered appropriate to our readers we will either turn them into a story, or publish them here.
BUREAU VERITAS LAUNCHES ‘MY BWMP’
Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, 12 July 12, 2017 – As the Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention’s D1 September 8th deadline looms, ship owners must secure International BWM Certificates and approved BWM plans for their ships. Bureau Veritas is addressing the challenge with a fast, effective and straightforward platform – ‘My Ballast Water Management Plan’ (My BWMP).
My BWMP provides ship owners with immediate online quotations, the ability to pay online, to submit their documents and then receive their approved BWM plans. My BWMP also enables Bureau Veritas to manage the high volumes to be processed within a very short time-frame. My BWMP is easy and it provides a rapid process for entering the required details for individual ships or fleets to secure a tailor-made quotation and enable the required documents to be submitted by a client shipowner or ship manager.
Philippe Donche-Gay, President of Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore said, “We wanted to provide owners and managers with a fast, practical resource to help them to meet the 8 September deadline with confidence and help ensure that we can manage the volume of work within the necessary time-frame. My BWMP brings e-business to the class business and we are also now looking at how it can be extended to provide further services giving access to our expertise in other areas.”
My BWMP will also provide technical, regulatory and commercial information and content related to the BWM Convention.
It is accessible directly at www.mybwmp.bureauveritas.com
or at www.veristarInfo.com
News continues below
GENERAL NEWS REPORTS – UPDATED THROUGH THE DAY
in partnership with – APO
News continues below
TO ADVERTISE HERE
Request a Rate Card from info@africaports.co.za
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.
News continues below
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.
The small products tanker ALMERE (13,053-dwt) sails into Durban harbour earlier in July to discharge her cargo at Island View, the giant liquid bulk terminal serving not only the local region but most of the Southern African region as well. Almere is owned by interests registered in London and is managed by Union Maritime also of London, while her ISM manager is Anglo-Eastern Tanker Management of Hong Kong. The ship is registered in the Marshall Islands and was built in 2009. She was renamed Almere in March this year – previous names this ship has operated under are LADY SINA since 2014 and SEMUA PERKASA from 2009. This picture is by Keith Betts
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
“The world always makes the assumption that the exposure of an error is identical with the discovery of truth — that the error and truth are simply opposite. They are nothing of the sort. What the world turns to, when it is cured on one error, is usually simply another error, and maybe one worse than the first one.”
― Henry Louis Mencken
ADVERTISING
For a Rate Card please contact us at info@africaports.co.za
Don’t forget to send us your news and press releases for inclusion in the News Bulletins. Shipping related pictures submitted by readers are always welcome. Email to info@africaports.co.za
SHIP PHOTOGRAPHERS Colour photographs and slides for sale of a variety of ships.Thousands of items listed featuring famous passenger liners of the past to cruise ships of today, freighters, container vessels, tankers, bulkers, naval and research vessels.P O BOX 809, CAPE TOWN, 8000, SOUTH AFRICA snai@worldonline.co.za http://home.worldonline.co.za/~snai
|
| South Africa’s most comprehensive Directory of Maritime Services will shortly be listed on this site. Please advise if you’d like your company to be included. To sign up for a free listing contact info@africaports.co.za or register online |
