TODAY’S BULLETIN OF MARITIME NEWS
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- First View : USIBA
- SAMSA and MSC place 97 young E.Capers in tourism jobs on cruise ships
- Tug No.7 USIBA is launched as No.6 UMBILO is handed over
- Mixed reactions as Ghana ports face paperless transactions
- New patrol vessel for Mauritius Coast Guard
- USS Porter Conducts RAS (Replenishment at Sea) with Turkish Navy
- Remains of some USS John S McCain sailors located
- Expected Ship Arrivals and Ships in Port
- Cruise News and Naval Activities
- Pics of the Day : MOL DELIGHT
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The latest tug to be launched at Southern African Shipyards in Durban is the USIBA, an isiZulu word for Feather. She is number 7 in a series of 9 tugs being built at the Bayhead shipyard, on time and within budget. Shortly after the naming of the vessel by the sponsor, President of the Zululand Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Judith Nzimande, the tug was taken away from the quayside on board the shipyard’s own floating dock to be lowered into the water in the Maydon Wharf turning basin. See the full report below. The picture is by Terry Hutson
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SAMSA AND MSC PLACE 97 YOUNG E. CAPERS IN TOURISM JOBS ON CRUISE SHIPS
A joint initiative between government, private sector companies and non-governmental organizations to not only skill but create job opportunities in the maritime economic sector will pay off for 96 Eastern Cape youths this week, when they are officially sent off to join tourism cruise vessels sailing across the world, reports the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA).
The 97 youths out of a total 128 that recently completed specialised training in basic marine skills under the Maritime Youth Development Programme (Eastern Cape) over the last two months, are to join MSC Cruises vessels in different parts of the globe.
A ceremony to wish them well in their new venture into the maritime world is to be held in Port St Johns, an Eastern Cape town on the spectacular Wild Coast region of the Indian Ocean, midway between East London and Durban.
The joint partners in the MYDP Eastern Cape initiative include the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA), the Eastern Cape Provincial Government, and Harambee.
More than half the youths due for send-off this week – some for their first jobs ever – are from the O.R Tambo District Municipality, and precisely Port St Johns; an area that is targeted this current year for a series of maritime sector related projects, primarily by SAMSA, for both maritime awareness and associated youth skills development and local community social upliftment.
But perhaps crucially, the SAMSA inspired and driven MYDP’s impact in the O.R Tambo District Municipality occurs against the backdrop of a Government announcement last week that Port St Johns has been declared one of six nodes in the country to be targeted for an Operation Phakisa (Ocean Economy) marine and coastal development programme over the next five years.
In a statement last week, Department of Tourism Minister, Ms Tokozile Xasa said following to Cabinet approval earlier this month, the Coastal and Marine Tourism Plan would be implemented in a nodal or cluster approach that would prioritize destinations rather than individual tourism projects or products.
She said the identified nodes/clusters in the first phase of up to five years would involve five geographic areas encompassing (Node 1) Durban and surrounds and (Node 2) Umkhanyakude District including Umhlabuyalingana and surrounds – all in the KwaZulu-Natal province; (Node 3) Port St Johns to Coffee Bay and (Node 4) East London, Port Elizabeth and surrounds – in the Eastern Cape province; (Node 5) Cape Town and surrounds in the Western Cape province and finally, (Node 6) West Coast and surrounds in the Northern Cape province.
Meanwhile, regarding today’s (Wednesday 23 August ) event in Port St Johns, according to SAMSA, the successful placement of the 97 youths on cruise vessels worldwide beginning September 2017, is a major achievement as it exceeds an original target of 50 youths originally planned for the first send-off.
“We are pleased that the EC project has been a resounding success. We completed the entire preparation process at the end of last week with MSC interviewing the final 128 candidates that successfully completed the training program,” said SAMSA Programme Manager for Operation Phakisa initiatives (Marine Transport and Manufacturing Delivery Unit), Mr Sizwe Nkukwana.
“MSC Cruises has agreed to place 97 candidates in this year’s intake that starts from 1 September. This number far exceeds he initially agreed target of 50, which was our SLA with the client, Office of the Premier of the Eastern Cape. This means we exceeded our target by 80% or we had an 180% achievement.”
Mr Nkukwana along with some senior SAMSA management headed by Chief Operating Officer (COO), Mr Sobantu Tilayi will join Eastern Cape Premier, Hon. Phumulo Masaulle – MPL, Eastern Cape provincial government officials, local traditional leadership, officials of the O.R Tambo District Municipality at the send-off ceremony today, which will characterised by a colourful display of AmaMpondo cultural activities including dance.
“The time to work with young people, to alter positively their future prospects and fortunes is now. As an entry point it is good that these young people are getting this kind of exposure and opportunity, to actually work on cruise liners to gain that international outlook and experience,” says Premier Masualle.
“It is also important that we do not position to only take up the lower layers level jobs in the sector, but we must move to empower these young people to go on to captain these ships, to be the engineers and ports officials and so, in essence, we must strive to penetrate all sectors including scarce skills in the maritime space.”
The event to be held at Port St Johns 2nd Beach – notorious for some spectacular shark attacks these last few years – will be beamed live on SABC radio and television (MorningLive as well as on Umhlobo Wenene, Trufm and local radio stations).
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TUG No.7 USIBA IS LAUNCHED AS No.6 UMBILO IS HANDED OVER
It was another proud day at the Southern African Shipyards yesterday when tug number 7 in a building programme of nine tugs was named USIBA and launched while tug number 6 UMBILO was handed over to Transnet National Ports Authority.
The sponsor or godmother of the latest tug, Ms Judith Nzimande, who is president of the Zululand Chamber of Commerce and Industry, sent a bottle of sparkling wine breaking across the tug’s bows in the traditional form of christening a vessel, before the tug was taken out into Durban Bay on board the floating dock which would later lower her into the waters for the first time.
USIBA, whose name means “Feather”, is destined for…[restrict] the Port of Richards Bay, while UMBILO, named after a local river that runs into Durban Bay, entered service yesterday in the Port of Durban.
The two tugs are part of a shipbuilding contract for nine similar tugs awarded to Southern African Shipyards. Each tug, like predecessors built before them also at SA Shipyards, is propelled by Voith Schneider propulsion and have a bollard strength of 70 tons. This enables them to handle the biggest ships likely to enter South African ports. Other tugs in the series have been deployed to Ngqura, Port Elizabeth and Saldanha Bay while Richards Bay has already received another of them.
Nico Walters, TNPA General Manager: Strategy described the event as significant as it followed TNPA and Southern African Shipyards’ joint winning of the Partnership Award in the Manufacturing category of the 2017 KZN Top Business Awards.
“TNPA and Southern African Shipyards clinched the award for this project, which the awards panel recognised as demonstrating our commitment to developing South Africans, and ultimately strengthening the nation through shipbuilding and repair services. The panel deemed this exceptional in respect of transparency and timeous delivery,” he said.
Walters said Southern African Shipyards was playing a proactive role in helping to unlock the potential of the Ocean Economy. He said the Durban-based ship builder had upheld the highest standards of sustainability and socio-economic responsibility throughout the project.
“This project is a shining example of the potential for Public Private Partnerships to create jobs and grow the economy,” he said.
The project has created 500 direct and 3500 indirect jobs with a minimum of 60% locally manufactured components. Subcontractors involved on the project include international subcontractors with local operations such as Barloworld Equipment, Siemens and Voith Schneider, as well as local contractors such as Bradgary Marine Shopfitters.
The nine tugs are being built for TNPA over three and a half years as part of a wider fleet replacement programme that also includes new dredging vessels and new marine aviation helicopters.
USIBA will be handed over to the Port of Richards Bay in November 2017. The eighth tug is due to be delivered in February 2018 and the ninth and final tug in June 2018.[/restrict]
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MIXED REACTIONS AS GHANA PORTS FACE PAPERLESS TRANSACTIONS
As Ghanaian port users approach the deadline when paperless transactions become compulsory (1 September), clearing and forwarding agents have expressed their disquiet saying that not enough preparation has gone into its implementation.
The agents staged a noisy demonstration outside the Customs Long Room at the Port of Tema. They sang, danced and chanted their displeasure while calling for the suspension of its implementation at the end of this month.
Some agents said they feared…[restrict] losing their livelihoods once the paperless transactions are brought into practice. Others called for more time in preparing for the changeover.
Meanwhile, the Monitoring Manager at the Port of Tema, Nii Nii-Koi Amasa says that paperless transactions will to a large extent reduce challenges that importers and freight forwarders face in clearing their goods at the ports.
Nevertheless, he warned that even though paperless transactions will make things easier and will speed up the clearing of goods through the ports, importers should remain aware of activities that can cause delays and the risk of demurrage. In an interview with Eye on Port, Nii-Koi Amasa said the Port Transformation Committee should push to eliminate some unwarranted charges raised by freight forwarders. He called on importers to clear their goods on time in order to avoid the paying of demurrage.
Job Losses
The acting Director General of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, Paul Asare Ansah has assured staff of the port authority that none of them will lose their jobs as a result of the port going paperless by 1 September.
Paul Ansah said that paperless transactions will instead speed up the clearing processes at the ports and increase the revenue of the Authority.
He called on port workers to give of their best in the discharge of their duties and to avoid corrupt acts that will dent the image of the organisation.
He was addressing staff in order to solicit support for a smooth take-off at the end of the month. The Port Director meanwhile weighed in by saying that the new system will enhance efficiency levels at Ghana’s ports. source: GPHA[/restrict]
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NEW PATROL VESSEL FOR MAURITIUS COAST GUARD
The Mauritian Coast Guard has commissioned into service its latest new patrol vessel, MCGS VALIANT, built in India at the Goa Shipyard.
The vessel was officially commissioned after arriving from India where the vessel had been completed on 30 April this year, four months ahead of schedule.
The contract for MCGS Valiant was awarded…[restrict] on 17 May 2014 and the keel laid on 22 May 2015, followed by her launching on 2 February this year.
The 50-metre long vessel was designed and built in-house by the Goa Shipyard. Designed primarily for coastal patrols, anti-piracy, anti-smuggling, anti-drug surveillance, anti-poaching operations, and search and rescue operations, she is equipped with a 30 mm CRN-91 Gun, 12.7 mm HMGs & 7.62 mm MMGs besides state-of-the-art navigation and communication equipment.
MCGS Valiant is capable of achieving a high speed of 37.3 knots against a contractual speed of 35 Knots, according to the shipyard.
Mauritius has been taking proactive steps to safeguard its maritime integrity which includes receiving delivery of its first new coast guard vessel, MCGS BARRACUDA in March 2015 and the introduction of 10 Fast Interceptor Boats in 2016, the arrival of a new Dornier 228 maritime surveillance aircraft in July last year, followed by the commissioning of the patrol vessel MCGS VICTORY (sister to Valiant) in December 2016 and two Chetak helicopters.
On the landside Mauritius coastal patrolling and surveillance capability is being further strengthened with the development of a new Coast Guard Headquarters at Fort William, and the upgrading of the Coast Guard’s vessel repair facilities including the construction of a dry dock facility.[/restrict]
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USS PORTER CONDUCTS RAS (Replenishment at Sea) WITH TURKISH NAVY
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS PORTER (DDG 78) received fuel and supplies during a replenishment at sea (RAS) on 19 August with Turkish replenishment oiler TCG YB KUDRET (A 595) in the Black Sea.
While Porter usually resupplies through United States Naval Ships, the RAS..[restrict] allowed Porter to work with Turkey, a NATO ally in the region, increasing interoperability and strengthening international ties.
In the words of Commander John Tobin, CO of Porter: “It is important to continue to work with our allies in the Black Sea and develop these evolutions of mutual support for each other. If we practice a replenishment-at-sea whenever we’re able to, we only strengthen our interoperability for future operations.”
Captain Tate Westbrook, Commander of Task Force 65 added: “Porter and TCG YB. Kudret’s replenishment in the Black Sea demonstrates the professionalism and the competency of both crews and the navies they represent. This is an advanced maritime operation that not every navy in the world can undertake. The importance of this interoperability with a NATO ally cannot be overstated, as it allows us to conduct sustained operations and enhance the regional security in a critical area of the world.”
The RAS also enabled Porter to continue conducting naval operations in the US 6th Fleet area of operations without pulling into port for logistical needs.
Porter received approximately 54,000 gallons of fuel, all of which was brought on board without incident.[/restrict]
Edited by Paul Ridgway
London
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REMAINS OF SOME USS JOHN S McCAIN SAILORS LOCATED
US Navy 7th Fleet reported (22 August) that Admiral Scott Swift, commander, Pacific Fleet, said some of the ten missing USS John S McCain (DDG 56) sailors were discovered earlier that day by divers performing recovery operations inside the guided-missile destroyer.
Swift also said the Royal Malaysian Navy has reported the discovery of potential remains of another missing McCain sailor, located while the ship was…[restrict] providing search and rescue assistance east of the Straits of Malacca and Singapore.
Said Admiral Swift to a group of international media during a press briefing at Changi Naval Base, Singapore, where McCain is currently moored: “We are still searching for our missing sailors. That remains our focus. Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the families of those sailors and the families of our sailors who were injured.”
The search for the missing sailors has been ongoing since early on 21 August following the collision of McCain and merchant vessel Alnic MC. Royal Malaysian Navy coastal patrol craft Petir (12) and Pang Alang (39), Handalan-class missile boat KD Handalan and Lekiu-class frigate KD Lekiu (30) along with two Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency vessels assisted in the search efforts of 22 August.
Republic of Singapore Navy Fearless-class patrol ships Noble Pearl (PCG 54) and Noble Knight (PCG 56) as well as Singaporean aircraft also aided in the day’s search.
Those vessels were joined by aviation assets from USS America (LHA 6), which will continue combing the area east of the Straits of Malacca and Singapore in the vicinity of the collision.
Amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) arrived at Changi Naval Base on 21 August and was initially moored across the pier from John S McCain. While in Singapore, USS America has provided messing and berthing services to McCain crew members and supported damage control efforts on board. America has also support searches for the missing. Ship Repair Facility divers were on scene to assess damage to the hull. USN ©.
Admiral Swift concluded by saying: “While the search and rescue efforts continue, I sincerely thank our Singapore partners, our Malaysian partners and everyone who has responded with urgency, compassion and tireless commitment.”
USS John S McCain was transiting to Singapore for a routine port visit when the collision occurred.
Alnic MC is a Liberian-flagged 183-metre LOA oil and chemical tanker of 30,000gt.
The incident will be investigated to determine the facts and circumstances of the collision.[/restrict]
Edited by Paul Ridgway
London
VIDEO CLIP [3:39]: Admiral John Richardson, Chief of Naval Operations USN Announces Investigation, Operational Pause After USS John McCain Collision
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GENERAL NEWS REPORTS – UPDATED THROUGH THE DAY
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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.
Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) container ship MOL DELIGHT (50,500-dwt) arriving in Durban earlier in August to work cargo at the Durban Container Terminal. Built in 2008 this 4500-TEU ship is 260 metres long and 32.2m wide. Operated by MOL she is owned by Rickmers & Cie. She was built at the Dalian Shipyard, China Shipbuilding Heavy Ind. Corp. in China as hull number CS4250-10. This picture is by Keith Betts
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
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