TODAY’S BULLETIN OF MARITIME NEWS
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- First View : DA ZHI
- NIMASA calls out for Africa to become globally competitive
- Inconclusive finding on Madagascan tug accident and deaths
- Minister welcomes Maritime Transport Policy
- Nacala port and railway place emphasis on training
- Unusual call-out for NSRI at Port St Johns
- Sale of Grindrod rail construction companies
- PRESS RELEASES: Fruit Producers and Exporters join hands in Association
- Expected Ship Arrivals and Ships in Port
- Cruise News and Naval Activities
- Pics of the Day : FIDELIO
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COSCO’s heavylift general cargo ship DA ZHI (29,496-dwt) arrives in Durban earlier in July. The 2014-built ship is owned and managed by Cosco Shipping Specialized division based in Guangzhou, China. Two months ago the same ship was involved in an ‘incident’ at the Ivory Coast port of Abidjan in West Africa, when she collided with one of the port’s four ship-to-shore container cranes. This was on 18 May as the general cargo ship was berthing and was just another in a sudden spate of world-wide collisions between ships and shoreside cranes at about that time – Durban having experienced two of them, as were reported in these columns at the time. In the Abidjan incident, the crane collapsed and was declared a total loss, while several containers below also suffered extensive damage, but fortunately there were no injuries. The ship was subsequently detained for further inspection and investigation. You can read that report and see the photograph in our 22 May edition CLICK HERE
This picture is by Trevor Jones
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NIMASA CALLS OUT FOR AFRICA TO BECOME GLOBALLY COMPETITIVE
Nimasa’s director-general has called for changes that he says are necessary for African countries to become globally competitive.
Dr Dakuku Peterside, Nigeria’s Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) was delivering a paper on the Significance of Maritime Regulations and Competitiveness of African Ports at a conference on Port Development held last week in Accra, Ghana.
“African Ports have fallen far behind our global peers on key performance indicators. Cargo spends nearly three weeks on average in Sub-Saharan African ports, compared to less than a week in large ports in Europe, Latin America and Asia. We are below the global average on three key productivity measures of ports: gross moves per hour, berth moves per hour and man-hours per move.”
Measures necessary to effect changes include having a one-stop portal such as the national single window available via the website of the customs authorities in Ghana, he said.
The integration of NIMASA’s system with the Nigerian Integrated Customs Information System (NICIS) was part of efforts to forge partnership with key industry stakeholders to enhance efficiency in the Nigerian maritime sector.
He emphasised the need for greater investment in infrastructure and human capital and stronger regulatory frameworks and enhancing institutional cooperation.
NIMASA has, Dakuku said, upgraded its surveillance system to a 24 hour basis and is able to monitor all vessels in the Nigerian maritime domain at all times.
“Security is essential for seafarers, ships and port facilities; the Federal Government recently approved a $186 million Integrated Waterways Surveillance and maritime security initiative which is to be run jointly with Nigerian Navy and Marine Police and the Army with the sole objective of operationally eliminating piracy and criminality on our waterways,” he said.
Dr Dakuku said that NIMASA remained committed to strengthening the capacity of the ports in Nigeria and to enable competitiveness on the African continent via the effective implementation of the Merchant Shipping Act, NIMASA and the Cabotage Act while ensuring that regulating the maritime sector with the use of these instruments does not hinder efficiency and negatively affect business operations in the ports.
“In a bid to boost investor confidence and benchmark to global standards, NIMASA actively ensures compliance and implementation of the International Ship and Ports Facility Security Code (ISPS) Code, our compliance level is now over 90 per cent. We also enforce industry compliance on all relevant IMO and ILO conventions.”
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INCONCLUSIVE FINDING ON MADAGASCAN TUG ACCIDENT AND DEATHS
The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has found that it is unable to make any recommendations with regard the accident in Tulear harbour, Madagascar on 20 September 2016, when the tug DOMINIQUE girted and capsized with five crew on board as its was assisting to pull the container ship CMA CGM SIMBA’s stern off the berth. Two of the tug crew lost their lives.
During the manoeuvre, the prevailing tidal conditions caused CMA CGM Simba to…[restrict] move towards a mooring dolphin. According to MAIB, “To avoid striking the dolphin, CMA CGM Simba’s master briefly manoeuvred his vessel ahead, and as the ship built up speed, the tug girted and capsized. It transpired that the pilot did not warn the tug that they would be coming ahead. Also, all communications between the pilot and tug were in the local dialect and could not be understood by the ship’s crew, reported MAIB.
It found that the tug was not fitted with a gog rope and the towing point was found not to have any mechanism to release the tow in an emergency. Doors and hatches on the tug were open and no-one on board CMA CGM Simba monitored the tug’s position during the manoeuvre.
MAIB found that the extent to which a plan for CMA CGM Simba’s departure had been discussed between the pilot and Dominique’s tugmaster before commencement was “uncertain”. In addition, Dominique’s five crew were also inexperienced in assisting ships.
Before disembarking, the pilot advised the master of CMA CM Simba that all of the tug’s crew had been rescued. However, the master was later notified that there had been a fatality and, following receipt of an instruction from APMF, the ship returned to Tulear.
“In view of current published guidance and the actions since taken by Midocean (IOM), no recommendations have been made,” MAIB found.
“The Madagascar maritime authority, Agence Portuaire, Maritime et Fluviale (APMF), has confirmed it is conducting a safety investigation into the causes and circumstances of the accident in accordance with the International Maritime Organization’s Casualty Investigation Code, but has not advised when its report will be published.”
CMA CGM Simba was making her first call at Tulear after joining the service between South Africa and Madagascar.[/restrict]
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MINISTER WELCOMES MARITIME TRANSPORT POLICY
South Africa’s Tourism Minister Tokozile Xasa has welcomed the launch of the Comprehensive Maritime Transport Policy by the Department of Transport in Durban on Friday.
“Our National Tourism Sector Strategy identifies transport as an enabler of tourism growth and underlines the significance of collaboration between the Departments of Transport and Tourism in removing barriers to tourism growth.
“We therefore, take this opportunity to pledge our…[restrict] support to the launch of the Comprehensive Maritime Transport Policy,” said Minister Xasa.
The Department of Tourism said it appreciates the emphasis of the policy on the promotion of ship ownership through various finance mechanisms; maritime culture, heritage and tourism, safety and security of people, vessels and cargo, investigations of marine accidents and incidents, small vessels and inland waters.
“We are excited about the inclusion of small harbours towards developing the South African Maritime Transport Global Brand as part of maritime tourism.
“The use of small vessels and inland waters for tourism and recreational purposes is an area which can benefit from the harmonisation of mandates, monitoring and support,” the Minister said.
The policy also focusses on the cruise tourism market which has the potential to attract more tourists to South Africa thereby, contributing to economic growth and job creation.
“We remain committed to co-operation with the Department of Transport in the implementation of this Comprehensive Maritime Transport Policy, as it also supports our Coastal and Marine Tourism Implementation Plan,” the Minister said. source: SAnews.gov.za[/restrict]
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NACAL PORT AND RAILWAY PLACE EMPHASIS ON TRAINING
CDN, the Port of Nacala authority has concluded a course of training for 12 workers at the port on maritime safety skills in accordance with the standards and requirements of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Convention for Safeguarding Human Life at sea (STCW).
The training, which began on 28 June 28 and ended on 7 July, was provided by an external trainer from ROTC (Regional Center for Offshore Training).
Maritime safety is needed to protect people, save lives and…[restrict] preserve the environment. It was in this context that the company trained its employees in the maritime area, putting into practice their values, namely, value to life, caring for the environment and communities, says CDN in a statement on its website.
In other related news from the port, a second group of train drivers have commenced their refresher training at the Nampula railway station.
This is for the purpose of ensuring that CDN is able to meet increased demands for train drivers on the Nacala rail corridor particularly as coal exports from Moatize are ramped up.
The training of existing crews began on 23 June when for a period of one month, railway locomotive crew are given refresher courses in the functions of railway dynamics, brake systems, basic wagon and locomotive functions, railway operating fundamentals, radio communication, basic guidelines for railway operation and safe railway operation.[/restrict]
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UNUSUAL CALL-OUT FOR NSRI AT PORT ST JOHNS
The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) receives a wide variety of calls for help or assistance, which can range from out-and-out sea rescues, to the medivac of patients off ships, to assisting with people injured from falls on rocks on isolated beaches or trails, or a number of diverse reasons why this purely voluntary organisation remains always on standby until called.
Such a call came on Saturday, 22 July when at about 10h00 the NSRI Durban station received a request to provide assistance to the chemical products tanker BOW LIND, which was…[restrict] sailing from Durban to Rotterdam and was reporting that the 35-man life-raft had been lost overboard but remaining attached to the ship by cables.
At that point the tanker was deepsea off the Wild Coast, approximately 50 nautical miles offshore.
Consideration was at first given for NSRI Durban to dispatch a sea rescue craft to assist with the life-raft recovery but because of favourable sea conditions the MV Bow Lind was requested instead to sail closer to Port St Johns where NSRI Port St Johns duty crew would dispatch their Offshore Africa Charter boat Offshore 1 to go to the tanker’s assistance.
“We rendezvoused with the ship 12 nautical miles off-shore of Port St Johns and at the ship captain’s request NSRI boarded the life-raft which was found to have some damage but not significant damage,” said Rob Nettleton, NSRI Port St Johns deputy station commander.
Nettleton said that a ship’s crewman boarded their boat Offshore 1 and was then assisted on board the life-raft which was cut loose, after which the NSRI towed the life-raft to the stern of the ship.
“A second ship’s crewman was then taken aboard our craft and taken to the life-raft and cables and ropes were lowered from the ship and a harness was constructed and the life-raft was secured to the ship with buffers to prevent damage to the life-raft and to the ship.
“Once the life-raft was secured NSRI’s assistance was no longer required and the captain reported that they would head for either Durban or to East London to make further repairs and to recover the life-raft properly,” Nettleton said.[/restrict]
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SALE OF GRINDROD CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES
Calling it a significant rail empowerment deal, WBHO and Faku Family Enterprises (FFE) have announced the purchase of Grindrod Rail Construction and Grindrod Rail Construction South African (GRCSA) entities.
Having met all conditions precedent and having received full Competition Commission Approval – without conditions – the sale has now become 100% effective.
The acquisition of the majority shareholding by…[restrict] FFE of GRCSA has established iKusasa Rail SA as a 75% black-owned company (40% Black Women owned) which is aligned with the government’s transformation strategy. The name of the company will officially be changed to iKusasa Rail to signify the new chapter for the company.
FFE is a 100% black owned (62% black female owned) investment holding Company with various interests ranging from oil and gas, retail, property and logistics.
Mkhuseli Faku, the newly appointed chairman of iKusasa Rail, says that this acquisition fits into the FFE group strategy of diversifying its product mix. He said he sees the entry into the rail space as an exciting opportunity.
“The name ‘iKusasa’ is synonymous with tomorrow, and I am confident that tomorrow will bring significant growth and opportunity”, said Faku.
WBHO, listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, is one of the largest construction companies in Africa with experience in major construction projects in Africa and Australia. Construction activities, which cover the full spectrum, are divided into three main operating divisions, namely Building Construction, Civil Engineering and Roads and Earthworks.
Richard Smith, Director of Roads and Earthworks, said “This acquisition will further diversify our offerings and allow the group to offer complete infrastructure solutions throughout Africa.”
Bongiwe Ntuli, CEO Grindrod Freight Services, said that WBHO’s experience in major projects in Africa, FFE’s empowerment credentials and GRC’s reputation as an industry leader in rail track construction, rehabilitation, electrification and maintenance, makes this transaction a perfect fit. “I wish all the players in the newly formed iKusasa Rail all the very best,” Ntuli said.
iKusasa Rail will now be a leading empowered rail, construction, maintenance and overhead traction equipment (OHTE) company with over 60 years of rich history of delivering quality rail projects into Africa.[/restrict]
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AFRICAN FRUIT PRODUCERS & EXPORTERS JOIN HANDS IN ASSOCIATION
Several African Fruit Producers and Exporters have come together to create ‘AFFRUIBANA’, the first Pan-African Association in defence of their interests.
Brussels, Belgium: AFRUIBANA, an association of fruit producers and exporters from Cameroon, the Ivory Coast and Ghana was officially launched in Brussels during a visit by Cameroon Trade Minister, Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana, to European institutions on Wednesday, 19 July.
As representative of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) during the various Councils of Ministers addressing the banana industry, the minister was lauded for this initiative, which will allow…[restrict] fruit producers on the continent to combine their efforts with a view to having their voices to be heard better in international trade.
AFRUIBANA is an association established under Cameroonian law and gathers several representatives of producers and exporters from different sub-Saharan countries, notably Assobacam, the Cameroon banana industry association, and OBAMCI, an Ivory Coast organisation of producers and exporters of bananas, pineapples, mangoes and other fruits. AFRUIBANA is an open platform with a mission to defend the interests of African fruit farming.
In Brussels, AFRUIBANA has thus become the permanent representative of a community of fruit producers and exporters across Cameroon, the Ivory Coast and Ghana. The association will take steps to support competitiveness and export fruits to EU countries. It will also serve as an interface between producers in the sector and European institutions to secure financing and support for African fruit growers. AFRUIBANA also has a key role in the representation and advocacy for asserting the quality and importance of agro-industrial value chains across the African continent in terms of economy, social affairs and environmental impact.
“The European Union is the main outlet for African bananas, for historical and geographical reasons,” says Joseph Owona Kono, Chairman of AFRUIBANA. “In the Ivory Coast and Cameroon, the agricultural sector makes up approximately 60% of the economy in these two countries.
“Farming is thus one of the main sources of jobs and income for most of the rural population. For this reason, AFRUIBANA has an essential role in reinforcing our ties with European agencies, favouring trade between Africa and Europe, promoting socioeconomic development and contributing in the fight against migration”.
Jean-Marie Kacou Gervais, Vice-Chairman of AFRUIBANA says that a number of future European political decisions are of a strategic importance for African producers. “AFRUIBANA’s role is therefore to raise awareness among European decision-makers about the interest of maintaining and developing African farming not only to continue exporting quality bananas but also to develop the economy in our countries by shoring up rural employment and family-run farms.”
Several important meetings will be on AFRUIBANA’s institutional agenda in the coming months, namely the EU-Africa Summit in Abidjan at the end of November 2017, with the adoption of a new road map for relations between the two continents, the preparation of the post-Cotonou Agreement as of January 2018, or even the provisions for meetings between the EU and Latin American producers during the first quarter in 2018.
Distributed by APO on behalf of AFRUIBANA.[/restrict]
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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.
Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s car carrier FIDELIO (71,583-gt) made a call in Durban this past week. Built at the Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering shipyard in Geoje, South Korea in 2007, and registered in Stockholm, this 227.8 metre long ship is one of the largest car carriers afloat, having a capacity of 8,000 cars when fully loaded. The ship has a total of 13 decks, of which five are moveable, i.e. they can be adjusted or removed to allow large wheeled vehicles to be loaded. She carries a complement of 15 crew and is owned by Wallenius Lines AB of Swedenand operated by Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics. These pictures are by Keith Betts
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
“Lighthouses don’t go running all over an island looking for boats to save; they just stand there shining.”
― Anne Lamott
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