TODAY’S BULLETIN OF MARITIME NEWS
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- First View : MSC IVANA
- TPT provides uniforms for underprivileged learners
- East and Southern Africa trade to weather stormy seas
- Nigeria looks to benefit from seabed mining
- CMA CGM initiates protection for palm oil shipments to Africa
- Naval News: New £48 million contract for Royal Navy workboats
- The Navy League Map
- Expected Ship Arrivals and Ships in Port
- Cruise News and Naval Activities
- Pics of the Day : GREEN MAGIC
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The 366-metre long, 45.6m wide Mediterranean Shipping Company container ship MSC IVANA (131,463-dwt) enters Durban at the weekend to work her cargo at the container terminal. Capable of carrying 11,660 TEU when fully loaded, MSC Ivana was built in 2008 at the Hyundai Heavy Industries Ltd Co shipyard in South Korea as their hull number 1942. The ship is owned and operated by MSC and as with most MSC-owned vessels, is flagged in Panama. This picture is by Trevor Jones
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TPT PROVIDES UNIFORMS FOR UNDERPRIVILEGED LEARNERS
On Monday a week ago, 7 August 2017, Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) brightened the lives of 165 underprivileged learners at the Buhlebuzile Primary School in the Lubisi area of Pongola with a donation of school uniform and shoes.
The school, which hosted last month’s TPT handover of a wire manufacturing machine to youth-owned co-operative Simbamisane, has also received minor renovations including a fresh coat of paint inside and outside a block of classrooms as well as replacing classrooms doors.
As part of supplier development, TPT contractors contribute a percentage of their contract value towards uplifting small businesses in the communities surrounding areas which TPT operates in. Suppliers in TPT’s Richards Bay Terminal who have supported this initiative by contributing a percentage of their contract value are Inkwelo Scaffolding Services; PREBCO Automotive Industrial Supplies, Kalmar Industries South Africa and Lazair Empangeni cc.
Symzah SA, a construction company based in Pongola, was tasked with the renovation of Buhlebuzile Primary School and local business woman, Busisiwe Mlambo, sewed the uniforms for the learners as she runs a dressmaking making business in Pongola.
Attending the handover function was TPT’s newly appointed Chief Executive, Nozipho Sithole who was given a tour of the school and was touched by the excitement of the pupils. Also seeing the great work that has been done by her team, she said how proud she was to be part of these kind of community upliftment initiatives undertaken by Transnet Port Terminals.
“Today’s event is not only to contribute to a brighter future of the learners of Buhlebuzile Primary School but it is also to encourage the community to identify their talents and open businesses based on their talents preparing them to supply products and services to huge companies such as Transnet Port Terminals.” Ms Sithole emphasised.
In attendance was also Procurement Executive Manager, Thandi Sabelo. “We believe it’s important to give back to the rural communities because these communities are where some of our employees come from. School uniform is an important part of education. There are learners who are discriminated due to worn out school uniforms and as a result fear attending class. A new uniform restores the confidence of a learner and inspires them to perform well,” stated Thandi Sabelo.
Various supplier development projects are rolled out throughout the country, in all regions that TPT operates in.
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EAST AND SOUTHERN ARICA TRADE TO WEATHER STORMY SEAS
Long term growth in trade with East and Southern Africa is forecast despite having experienced global and regional trade hitches.
This was the conclusion reached in a recent trade analysis produced by Dirk Visser, a Senior Shipping Consultant with Dutch shipping consultancy Dynamar.
The 200-page East & Southern Africa Container Trades Report says that…[restrict] when compared to East Africa, West African ports host ships that are bigger, has more carriers and more international port operators.
The West African service employing the largest units is a veritable hub-and-spoke operation, connecting the Lomé hub with a large number of regional ports by feeder. However, such a hub and spoke system is not found in East Africa.
Nonetheless the East African state of Somalia has seen ever more containerships coming to its ports.
A worldwide trade slowdown has hit the Eastern and Southern African economies, but not all to the same degree.
South Africa, normally the regional growth generator, has struggled while Kenya continues to do well and Mombasa expects a throughput of 2.5 million TEU by 2020.
Two planned East African Corridors – Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport corridor (LAPSSET) and Mwambani Port and Railway Corridor Company (MWAPORC) – have had to endure delays, stagnation and external scepticism.
Growth forecasts for 2015-2020 however predict volume increases of CAGR 3.2% for Southern Africa and 10% for or East Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands combined.
“Sixteen of all Africa’s 56 countries are landlocked. Their lifeline is the connection with the nearest seaport in an adjacent country. Inland transport is two-and-a-half times more expensive than ocean carriage. It means that the welfare of 228 million people in eleven East & Southern African countries is impacted as they pay more for their imports and get less for their exports.”
In Africa as a whole, the overall number of full containers carried is anticipated to exceed 7 million TEU for the first time in 2020. source: Port Technology[/restrict]
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NIGERIA LOOKS TO BENEFIT FROM SEABED MINING
The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr Dakuku Peterside announced late last week that Nigeria is set to benefit from deep sea mining through the effective harnessing of opportunities creating by working with the International Seabed Authority (ISBA).
Dr Peterside was speaking at the opening ceremony of the 23rd Assembly of the International Seabed Authority (ISBA) held in Kingston, Jamaica. He said that irrespective of the numerous resources in Nigeria, there was…[restrict] the need to work more closely with ISBA in the area of seabed resources exploration.
Commending ISBA on its role in the optimal utilisation of seabed resources among maritime stakeholders, Peterside called for assistance in the area of capacity building to survey deep sea and establish the necessary data base of mineral resources available for the benefit of all mankind.
He announced that the Federal Government is currently developing policies that will aid the harnessing of seabed resources and will be working closely with ISBA.
According to Dr Peterside, “the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Transportation is developing a country blue economy policy and strategy which will incorporate the sustainable development of the country’s deep seabed resources.”
He said that the Nigerian Navy Hydrographic office has been undertaking a hydrographic survey and charting of Nigeria’s maritime area, and added that in the same vein NIMASA is working with Nigerian Navy to effectively enforce the United Nations Convention on the law of the sea and other relevant international maritime instruments to which we are a party around our continental shelf.
He also noted that, while seeking exploitation of the mineral resources within the Seabed off Nigerian national maritime jurisdiction, marine environment preservation and protection will continue to be given top priority.
Dr Peterside used the opportunity to congratulate Mr Michael Lodge of the United Kingdom on his appointment as Secretary General of ISBA Council and Eugenio Joao Muianga of Mozambique on his election as President of the Authority’s 23rd session.
He added that Africa is proud of the appointment of Eugenio Joao Muianga and pledged that Nigeria is ready to cooperate with and support the work of the Authority while looking forward to benefiting from available opportunities.
The International Seabed Authority is an autonomous international organisation established under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 1994 Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The Authority, which has its headquarters in Kingston, Jamaica, came into existence on 16 November 1994, upon the entry into force of the 1982 Convention and as at 25 July 2016 it had 168 member countries of which Nigeria is one.[/restrict]
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CMA CGM INITIATES PROTECTION FOR PALM OIL SHIPMENTS TO AFRICA
French container line CMA CGM has announced that, in response to customer needs for “reliable and inclusive solutions” it will be initiating a new tailor-made cargo protection service for palm oil shipments ex Indonesia and Malaysia to Africa.
As from tomorrow, 15 August 2017, all palm oil shipments ex both countries will be compensated up to US$ 10,000 in the event of loss or damage of cargo during transportation.
An automatic prepaid surcharge of US$ 10 per container will therefore be implemented for all shipments of palm oil ex Indonesia and Malaysia as follows:
From Indonesia and Malaysia ports
To Africa
Quantum: Prepaid surcharge of US$ 10 per 20′ / US$ 10 per 40′
Cargo: palm oil shipments
Application: 1 August 2017 (B/L date)
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NEW £48 CONTRACT FOR ROYAL NAVY WORKBOATS
With the Royal Navy increasing its assets and Britain’s flagship carrier now set to enter her new home port of Portsmouth, Defence Minister Harriett Baldwin announced on 9 August a £48 million contract for the next-generation of workboats which will support British warships and jobs ashore.
It was reported that the fleet of up to 38 workboats will assist Royal Navy ships from UK bases and on operations all over the world.
With Britain’s flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth, the carrier set to arrive in Portsmouth…[restrict] in under two weeks, tasks to be carried out by the boats will include transferring personnel to and from both warships of the class (her sister-ship HMS Prince of Wales is nearing completion). Able to carry up to 36 passengers these workboats can be stowed inboard of the new carriers and winched into the water as necessary to support the warships wherever they may be serving.
It was furthermore reported that construction and support of the boats will sustain 60 British jobs, including 15 at Atlas Elektronik UK near Dorchester in Dorset where the boats will be built. A further 45 jobs will be sustained across the supply chain, including at Ambex in Lancing, E P Barrus in Bicester, Hamilton Jet in East Grinstead, KPM-Marine in Birmingham, Mashfords in Plymouth, Norco GRP in Poole, and UK Docks in Gosport;.
Defence Minister Harriett Baldwin commented: ‘From the south coast to the banks of the Clyde, British shipbuilding is ensuring that our growing Navy has the reach it needs to protect our interests around the globe. These cutting-edge workboats will support the likes of our iconic new aircraft carriers and the Type 26 frigates, as well as sustaining 60 British jobs. This is another step in our £178 billion plan to provide our Armed Forces with the very best equipment to keep our country safe.’
Ranging in length from 11 to 18 metres, the boats will also perform other tasks including officer and diver training, Antarctic exploration and explosive ordnance disposal.
They are said to be highly adaptable to operational demands and of advanced modular design. For example, if the Royal Navy wished to quickly redeploy a boat from hydrographic survey duties to support diving for explosive ordnance, the survey module can be quickly lifted out of the boat and replaced with the diving module containing the high pressure air required for that task.
This contract will enable the design and construction of up to 38 boats as well as in-service support for the fleet for a further two years after the final boat is accepted. The first boat will enter service next year.
Chief Executive Officer of Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), the MOD’s procurement organisation, Tony Douglas added: ‘These boats use modern materials and have been designed from the keel up to provide the Royal Navy with unparalleled flexibility and adaptability. DE&S is proud to maintain excellent working relationships with partners across UK industry, ensuring our Armed Forces continue to be provided with the equipment they need while also maintaining vital British skills and jobs.’
Each of these craft will feature glass-reinforced plastic hulls and advanced twin waterjet propulsion. Despite their varying roles, they will have the same steering and control system, reducing the need for training and making them simple to operate, it is understood.[/restrict]
Paul Ridgway
London
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Illustrating British Navy History
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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.
A ‘ship of interest’ that called in Durban at the weekend was the Green Reefers’ vessel GREEN MAGIC (6116-dwt), which called for bunkers and has since proceeded on her way down the South African coast. As a refrigerated ship she would ordinarily attract some interest among ship watchers, for these vessels are often quite attractive remnants of a disappearing style of general cargo ship. But interest in her general appearance is not the only reason Green Magic has attracted some attention as the ship approached the African coast. She is reported to have ‘lingered’ off the north-east coast of Madagascar, which in turn then aroused the attention of an organisation called the Regional Maritime Information Fusion Center (RMIFC), which collects and analyses risk factors in the western Indian Ocean. The RMIFC placed a “ship of interest” tag on Green Magic, saying that the vessel appeared to have strayed from her direct course from South-East Asia to Durban by arriving off the north-east coast of Madagascar and lingering at an unusually slow speed. The FMIFC stated that “We suspect that it could be an attempt to illicitly load a cargo of rosewood,” and “We are currently in the process of taking the necessary measures to intercept the ship.” In the event it appeared the ship was either not intercepted or was found t be free from any suspicion because she made her scheduled call at Durban on Saturday, 12 August, sailing the following day (yesterday) and by last night was off the coast near East London heading south-west with the Panama Canal as her immediate destination. It just goes to show that any ship arriving in port has the potential for a little mystery on the side. This picture is by Keith Betts
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
““I am a minimalist. I like saying the most with the least.”
– Bob Newhart
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