TODAY’S BULLETIN OF MARITIME NEWS
Click on headline to go direct to story : use the BACK key to return
- First View : GLOVIS CORONA
- PIL refutes merger rumours
- Career navy man appointed Deputy Chief of the Navy
- South Africa & China to participate in trade talks
- CMA CGM re-introduces WAX 2 Service to West Africa
- Transaid commences a major project of driver training in Uganda
- Naval: USS Gerald R Ford commissioning
- Expected Ship Arrivals and Ships in Port
- Cruise News and Naval Activities
- Pics of the Day : MSC SOFIA CELESTE
SEND NEWS REPORTS AND PRESS RELEASES TO
info@africaports.co.za
News continues below
The car carrier GLOVIS CORONA (55,680-gt) seen arriving in Durban last week. The ship is the fairly standard car carrier length of 200 metres with a beam of 32m, although some of the newer ships are a bit longer. Built in 1996 at the Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea, the ship originally operated with the name ASIAN GRACE until April 2014 when she took on her current identity. The ship is owned by Hyundai Glovis of Seoul, South Korea and managed by Haeyoung Maritime of Busan, South Korea and with her name also inscribed in Korean on her bows, the ship’s nationality and ownership cannot easily be ignored. At Christmas time last year however the owners and managers would probably have preferred less publicity when their ship, on a voyage in rough weather and high swells between Hamburg and Gothenburg, developed a list to port which the crew was unable to repair through ballasting, forcing the ship to be turned back and an anchorage sought off Bremerhaven. Because of her list that at one stage reached nearly 20 degrees, she was unable to dock in port until the weather improved, but once the weather had abated the crew was able to reballast her. Accompanied by tugs she then entered port where necessary repairs were carried out. These included repairs to frames, pillars and columns all of which received damage from motor vehicles including large trucks moving about as the ship listed. After repairs she was able to continue her interrupted voyage. This picture is by Keith Betts
News continues below
Pacific International Lines (PIL) has refuted speculation that the Singapore-based container company is next in line for absorption into a larger group.
The rumours were given credence when shipping analyst Alphaliner speculated that PIL was an attractive target because the company was privately owned with no governmental links and because of PIL’s ties to African trades, which made it attractive to other groups.
Alphaliner pointed out that PIL was one of four mid-sized container operators that remained independent but that the other three – Yang Ming (Taiwan), ZIM (Israel) and Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) had links to their respective national governments which would render them difficult targets for a takeover outside of the own countries.
Adding to reasons why PIL might be considering accepting an offer is that the company posted a significant loss in the last financial year and that it has a substantial order book of new ships, all in the very large container range, which will require payment in the coming years.
In an interview with the American Journal of Commerce, however, PIL’s spokesperson Lisa Teo said that PIL was not willing to add to the speculation, partly she said because this was bad for the industry. Her response however fell short of an outright denial of the rumours, although she noted that the liner market had improved significantly in the first half of this year.
News continues below
CAREER NAVY MAN APPOINTED DEPUTY CHIEF OF THE NAVY
A career navy man who has come up through the ranks has become South Africa’s new deputy chief of the Navy. Rear Admiral Guy Jamieson was appointed to this rank earlier this year although the news was not widely publicised.
David Guy Jamieson went to school at Hilton College in KwaZulu-Natal. After completing his schooling he joined the navy in 1978. He rose in rank to command two of the Warrior class strike craft, SAS ADAM KOK and SAS JAN SMUTS and was also appointed in charge…[restrict] of the strike craft squadron, based then in Durban.
Promoted to captain in 2000 he was assigned to the Corvette [frigate] project as a deputy project officer. In 2003 he was appointed Officer Commanding of the first Corvette (later correctly reclassified as a frigate), SAS AMATOLA F145 and took delivery of the ship in Germany, bring her to South Africa on completion.
In 2009 Capt Jamieson was appointed SSO (Senior Staff Officer) Surface Warfare.
Two years later he was appointed Chief of Fleet Staff and promoted to Rear Admiral (Junior Grade).
On 31 March this year his predecessor as Deputy Chief of the Navy, Rear Admiral Hanno Teuteberg, took voluntarily leave of the SA Navy using a MEM (members exit mechanism). Rear Admiral Jamieson took over in his position on 1 April 2017 and is now based in the Navy Office in Pretoria.[/restrict]
News continues below
SOUTH AFRICA & CHINA TO PARTICIPATE IN TRADE TALKS
South Africa and China will over the next few days participate in two BRICS [Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa] trade Ministers’ meetings.
Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies, who arrived in China on Friday, attended the Industry Ministers two-day meeting which got underway in Hangzhou, the capital of China’s Zhejiang province on Saturday.
Following the conclusion of the Industry Ministers meeting, Minister Davies will participate in the Trade Ministers Meeting in Shanghai.
The meeting is scheduled for 1-2 August.
The meetings will discuss areas in which BRICS countries can enhance cooperation on issues related to trade and investment. The key areas of…[restrict] focus will be trade and investment facilitation, trade in services, intellectual property rights, economic and technical cooperation and the multilateral trading system.
“The BRICS platform provides an opportunity to promote the implementation of a practical trade and investment agenda among BRICS countries. In addition, the issues to be discussed in the BRICS trade ministers are critical in driving an inclusive trade and investment agenda. South Africa will chair BRICS in 2018,” said Minister Davies on Friday.
Last year, the Ministers’ meeting in India evaluated progress in the implementation of the Strategy for BRICS Economic Partnership.
It also emphasised the need for strengthening the BRICS economic partnership and operationalisation of the Strategy to ensure greater participation, value addition and upward mobility in global value chains of BRICS firms including through the preservation of policy space to promote industrial development. – SAnews.gov.za[/restrict]
News continues below
CMA CGM RE-INTRODUCES WAX 2 SERVICE TO WEST AFRICA
French shipping group CMA CGM says it is re-introducing its WAX 2 Service between Asia and West Africa in response to “positive commercial exchanges in the dynamic market in West Africa”.
The service returns as from today (31 July 2017) with a second loop…[restrict] dedicated to Nigeria.
CMA CGM has four existing services between Asia and West Africa and says that WAX 2 will be operated on a fortnightly basis with vessels of 4250 TEU and a 70-day rotation.
WAX 2 will be a lean service of just five port calls, with no stops in South Africa, operating instead a direct service from Asia to Tin Can Island and Apapa in Lagos.
Transit times are Nansha – Tin Can Lagos in 33 days, Guangdong area in 35 days, Singapore 27 days, Laem Chabang and Jakarta in 30 days. Apapa is reached in 31 days from Nansha
In addition to Nigeria, CMA CGM says the WAX 2 loop will serve the Benin and Niger Door markets through tailor-made inland solutions.
The WAX 2 Port rotation is as follows:
Nansha – Singapore – Apapa – Tincan Lagos – Cotonou – Singapore – Nansha.[/restrict]
News continues below
TRANSID COMMENCES A MAJOR PROJECT OF DRIVER TRAINING IN UGANDA
HGV and PSV driver training in Uganda
Introducing Transaid
Founded by Save the Children, the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), and with HRH The Princess Royal as its patron, the international development organisation Transaid shares 25 years’ worth of expertise in 23 countries with partners and governments – empowering people to build the skills they need to transform their own lives.
This London-based charity has a priority with passion: “Every driver should be able to leave for a day’s work without the fear they may not come home because of a lack of training, or dangerous vehicles and roads. Every family should be able to access vital healthcare; nobody should be left behind. Every person should have the opportunity to build the skills they need to transform their future.”
Transaid is trusted by international organisations, governments, and communities, to…[restrict] share knowledge, and to bring together expertise from other organisations.
The charity has a unique technical reputation in the transport and development niche and its ability to make a significant impact on the ground is huge – from the moment the first driver has been trained, lives will be saved and livelihoods improved.
Professional Driver Training – Uganda (PDTU)
On 28 July Transaid announced that it has commenced a major project to build the capacity of heavy goods vehicle (HGV) and passenger service vehicle (PSV) driver training in Uganda.
Transaid’s involvement was secured as a result of its proven ability to raise the driving standards of thousands of commercial vehicle drivers in Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia – life-saving work which it began in 2008, thanks to the support of the UK transport and logistics industry.
Transaid was also involved in an initial 12-month project in Uganda which began in 2014, and highlighted the need to continue to build driver training capacity in country.
Now set to become one of Transaid’s largest initiatives in Africa, the Professional Driver Training – Uganda (PDTU) project has been secured in partnership with the German development cooperation’s GIZ* E4D**/SOGA – Employment and Skills for Eastern Africa, local non-governmental organisation – Safe Way Right Way, the Ugandan Government and the local private sector.
This is the first time that Transaid’s road safety work has received external funding on this scale, with previous projects relying heavily on the support of its UK corporate members, which send staff on secondment to Africa to share best practice, skills and knowledge with local teams, helping to introduce new skills in-country, as well as providing much needed funding and equipment.
The project’s primary role is to ensure Ugandan drivers are in a position to meet the needs of the oil, gas and related sectors, in the face of rising demand for qualified commercial drivers in the coming years.
In a country which currently suffers from one of Africa’s highest road traffic incident rates, claiming approximately 2,937 lives each year (according to a WHO Global Status Report on Road Safety 2015), this project will also contribute to improving road safety by enhancing driver training capacity.
Training will take place at three existing schools and a new facility in the Mukono district, with students set to benefit from extensive practical experience. The training will follow the East African Community (EAC) Standardised Curriculum for Drivers of Large Commercial Vehicles – developed by Transaid as a means to harmonise road safety standards across the region.
In the words of Neil Rettie, Transaid’s Road Safety Project Manager: “We expect to see more than 1,000 new driving jobs created in Uganda over the next few years. However, many professional drivers currently lack the necessary skills to fill these positions safely.”
He continued with: “The PDTU project will therefore be vital for increasing education and awareness around road safety, and driving forward the current standards of training available. Our ability to make a significant impact on the ground is huge – from the moment the first driver has been trained, we will be saving lives and improving livelihoods.”
Funding for the PDTU project is being made available jointly by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation (BMZ); the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD).
Since 2008, Transaid has been working with local and international partners to build the capacity of the transport and logistics sector across East and Southern Africa.[/restrict]
Edited by Paul Ridgway
London
*(Deutsche) Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit
** Employment for Development
News continues below
NAVAL: USS GERALD R FORD COMMISSIONING
Includes video (1 hour 22mins 56 seconds) of the Commissioning Ceremony
On 22 July President Donald J Trump commissioned the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) at a ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk Virginia.
A commissioning is a day of celebration, and honours the dedication, team work, and collaboration of sailors, legislators, shipbuilders, programme managers, and the ship’s sponsor in delivering the ship to the Fleet.
Trump landed on the flight deck in Marine One and was greeted by Secretary of Defense James Mattis, Acting Secretary of the Navy Sean Stackley, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral John Richardson, and USS Gerald R Ford Commanding Officer Captain Rick McCormack.
Over 10,000 friends and family members attended the event, watching the festivities from the hangar bay, the pier and USS Dwight D Eisenhower (CVN 69).
In the words of the President: “Wherever this vessel cuts through the horizon, our allies will rest easy and our enemies will shake with fear because everyone will know that America is coming and America is coming strong. Our true strength is our people. Our greatest weapon is all of you. Our nation endures because we have citizens who love America and who are willing to fight for America.”
He continued: “We are so very blessed with warriors who are willing to serve America in the greatest fighting force in history, the United States military. Today this ship officially begins its role in the noble military history of our great nation.”
Acting Secretary of the Navy Sean Stackley also addressed the ship’s company and guests: “So Skipper, as we marvel at the technology and the daunting numbers that measure this ship, never lose sight that in times of crisis, you will be the first to respond, and when called upon, you will deliver the final word in the bidding of our nation. Whenever you sail, wherever you sail, you will be a symbol of Unites States resolve and you will be a symbol of the man whose name you bear.”
After the ship’s sponsor and President Ford’s daughter Susan Ford Bales gave the traditional command to “Man our ship and bring her to life,” Ford Sailors ran up the brows and manned the rails as the band played ‘Anchors Aweigh.’
Captain Rick McCormack expressed his pride in the work his crew has done to get the ship ready to serve in the fleet. He said: “The Sailors aboard today are among our nation’s finest. They are talented, driven, innovative, dedicated, and passionate about what they do and I am very proud to be their commanding officer. Team Wolverine, I have the utmost faith and confidence in your abilities to handle any challenge ahead, and I can think of no better team to take this ship to sea.”
After the ceremony, the ship was opened to the general public for tours, which included the flight deck, the Commanding Officer’s in-port cabin, pilot house, mess decks, fo’c’sle, and the newly opened tribute room.
USS Gerald R. Ford is the lead ship in the Ford-class of aircraft carrier, the first new class in more than 40 years, and will begin the phased replacement of Nimitz-class carriers.
CVN78 honours the 38th President of the United States and pays tribute to his lifetime of service in the Navy, in the US government and to the nation. During the Second World War Ford attained the rank of Lieutenant-Commander in the Navy, serving in the light carrier USS Monterey. Ford became president in the aftermath of the Watergate scandal and served in the country’s highest office from 1974-1977.
YouTube video of the Commissioning Ceremony can be found here: [1:22:56]
Edited by Paul Ridgway
London
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.
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.
PIC OF THE DAY : MSC SOFIA CELESTE
A new arrival on the local horizon although not a new ship just out from the builder’s yard but now included among the great many Mediterranean Shipping Company ships to call in South Africa, MSC SOFIA CELESTE (110,039-dwt) is seen departing from her inaugural call at Durban on Thursday 27 July 2017 (and at Ngqura a few days earlier). The 300 metre long, 48m wide ship has a container capacity of 8800 TEU. She was built in 2015 at the Dalian Shipbuilding Co in Dalian, China. This picture is by Trevor Jones
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
“Living is like tearing through a museum. Not until later do you really start absorbing what you saw, thinking about it, looking it up in a book, and remembering – because you can’t take it in all at once.”
― Audrey Hepburn
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 |
