TODAY’S BULLETIN OF MARITIME NEWS
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- First View : HEEMSKERKGRACHT
- Ship runs aground in Richards Bay
- Meridian’s new technology and equipment advances operations at Tema
- SAMSA’s Thobela Gcabu elected into top leadership of international body
- Tanzania signs contract for new Lake Victoria ferry
- Bolloré to acquire interest in some of Necotrans business
- Angola to spend nearly US$100 million on maintaining railway network
- Dredging: Jan de Nul launches world’s most powerful cutter dredger
- Baker Hughes awarded second contract for Mozambique’s Coral South FLNG
- PRESS RELEASE: RIMS registered by Bureau Veritas as supplier of aerial drones
- Expected Ship Arrivals and Ships in Port
- Cruise News and Naval Activities
- Pics of the Day : MYSTRAS
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Bird’s Eye View! The freighter HEEMSKERKGRACHT (12,678-dwt) heads towards the Durban port entrance and the open sea, having completed her call at the port in this scene taken from the Millennium Tower. Built in 2009 the 138-metre long, 21m wide general cargo ship is owned by Netherland interests whose flag she flies. She is managed and operated by Spliethoff’s Bevrachtings BV of Amsterdam, a company that dates back to the early 1920s and currently has a fleet of around 50 modern cargo ships. This picture is by Trevor Jones
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SHIP RUNS AGROUND IN RICHARDS BAY
There have been several incidents involving ships and tugs having bumps and scrapes in Richards Bay recently, which Africa PORTS & SHIPS has chosen to ignore, as details have been difficult to confirm.
But now comes local newspaper reports of a bulk carrier named BEAUFORT (57,022-dwt) which went aground in Richards Bay harbour on Monday, 28 August.
If there’s any confusion about this story it is not made easier by the newspaper incorrectly naming the ship BEAUMONT. However, it appears that Beaufort had just left the coal terminal after loading cargo and, while being accompanied by two tugs, ran aground on a sandbank in the harbour near the entrance. The report says this was on a rising tide, which no doubt assisted the efforts of tugs, now bolstered by a third, in pulling her off a short while later.
The ship did not suffer any damage and after an inspection back at the coal terminal she was able to sail. No damage to the environment occurred either.
Eyewitnesses (anglers on nearby Naval Island) are quoted as saying: “It turned into the main channel and just kept on turning. The tugs had already left her side and were heading back to the Small Craft Harbour.”
The report says that “The authorities have also initiated investigation to determine the cause of the incident which could possibly be a mechanical failure.”
It was not clear whether the bulker was under pilotage at the time, as the pilot usually leaves the ship once in the entrance channel. sources: Zululand Observer and MFAME
In February this year there was a similar report of the bulk carrier PANAMAX STERLING running aground in the port entrance channel, but this was denied by Transnet National Ports Authority, which said that the incident had been a “near miss.” On that occasion the ship apparently veered to the side and touched bottom. The ship’s master dropped anchor and was subsequently pulled into deeper water by harbour tugs before proceeding to berth 306 for an underwater inspection.
With no damage having been found the ship was cleared to sail by both the class surveyor and the South African Maritime Safety principal officer.
Earlier this month we received reports of a tug being pulled against the side of the quay or against dolosse, the reports conflict – we were unable to obtain confirmation of this incident.
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MERIDIAN’S NEW TECHNOLOGY AND EQUIPMENT ADVANCES OPERATIONS AT TEMA
With the update and expansion of equipment at the Tema Port, Meridian Port Services (MPS), a container terminal operator in Africa, is radically upgrading Information Technology (IT) Infrastructure to further advance operations in Tema, Ghana.
MPS, a public-private partnership between Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority and Meridian Port Holdings, is also a joint venture with Bolloré Africa Logistics and APM Terminals as principal investors.
The Head of…[restrict] IT of MPS, Mr Emil Opare, told journalists in Accra that “MPS has always understood that to drive and operate an effective and efficient terminal, we need to use technology as the business driver”.
“We have invested in a modern Terminal Operating System (TOS) called Navis, which is an industry leading product in running a terminal. This, combined with an Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), ensures that our planners on the ground can plan the discharge strategy and yard allocations of each crane effectively,” he said.
In addition, MPS has also developed a Gate Application system with a scanning capability that enables staff to scan and capture all incoming transactions through their gates. This eliminates data capture errors, expedites gate transactions, improves data quality and accuracy, leaves audit trails and ultimately ensure the safety of the ground clerks.
It is clear that numerous changes have taken place to overhaul and upgrade MPS’ IT systems, including a complete redesign of their WiFi network and the installation of an entire CCTV system but perhaps the most successful change has been the deployment of a new DGPS system, he said.
“This is definitely one of the highlights of this quarter. The Differential Global Position System (DGPS) is used to track in real-time container locations in the yard. DGPS is an enhancement to Global Positioning System (GPS) that will provide improved container location accuracy,” said Mr. Opare.
He explained that the DGPS used a network of fixes, ground-based reference stations to broadcast the difference between the containers’ positions indicated by the satellite systems and the known fixed positions in the stacks.
A digital correction signal was then broadcast locally over ground-based transmitters which allow the company to track containers in real time and improve data quality.
Most IT systems now in place at MPS are the globally recognised-and deployed-operating systems. However, in some cases, the company has locally developed some systems.
“For the Human Resource Management (Amanfo) and Payroll (Akatua) systems, it has opted for a localised solution with SoftTribe.
“We always look at which system will yield the best results and choose our IT systems accordingly,” he stated.
Aside from the IT systems themselves, MPS is fully committed to the training of staff, ensuring that all IT staff hold Fiber Optics Association (FOA), Fallbrooks, California and USA Certifications.
Each member of staff attends IT and Management workshops to not only develop personally, but fortify the entire IT environment here at MPS,” Mr Opare added.
MPS is investing further with an order for 20 Rubber Tyre Gantries (RTGs) and seven Ship-to-Shore (STS) cranes from ZPMC. According to ZPMC this is the largest order ever received from Ghana and follows the supply of four RTGs and three STS cranes in 2005.
MPS and ZPMC signed the contract for the latest cranes last week (22 August).
Watch a short 4 minute [4:07] video of the Port of Tema.
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SAMSA’S THOBELA GQABU ELECTED INTO TOP LEADERSHIP OF INTERNATIONAL BODY
Captain Thobela Gqabu, Principal Officer at South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) Southern Region offices in East London, has been elected Vice-Chairman of the Indian Ocean Memorandum of Understanding Committee (IOMOU) on Port State Control.
IOMOU is a 19 member Port States structure of countries of which most border on the Indian Ocean.
Captain Gqabu was elected the Vice-Chairman of the group during its 20th committee meeting held in the Maldives last week.
The IOMOU has its base in India – member states are…[restrict] Australia, Bangladesh, Comoros, Eritrea, France, India, Iran, Kenya, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Myanmar, Oman, Seychelles, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania and Yemen.
The IOMOU structure is one of nine similar regional port States agreements arrangements globally, the rest made up of Europe and the North Atlantic (Paris MoU); Asia and the Pacific (Tokyo MoU); Latin America (Acuerdo de Viña del Mar); Caribbean (Caribbean MoU); West and Central Africa (Abuja MoU); the Black Sea region (Black Sea MoU); the Mediterranean (Mediterranean MoU); and the Riyadh MoU. The United States Coast Guard maintain the 10th PSC regime.
The MOU structures form part of a global network of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) port states structures worldwide, established and tasked with ensuring that ocean-going vessels comply with international standards while serving international shipping demands.
In terms of the arrangements, ships generally are required to comply to no less than 28 international instruments that cover the design, safe manning, pollution prevention, seafarer training and welfare; and ensuring that the ships have adequate insurance cover for identified risks.
In the Maldives last week, the IOMOU Port States Secretariat announced in a communiqué that Captain Gqabu had been elected as its new committee vice-chairman, along with Ms Beatrice Nyamoita, an assistant Director for Shipping & Maritime at Kenya’s Department of Transport, as the new Chairman.
Captain Gqabu’s election was proposed by France and supported by several of the committee members. He has served on the IOMOU committee since 2015.
In the announcement, the IOMOU secretariat said the pair would lead the committee in its next three annual meetings, the very next scheduled for Freemantle, Australia in August 2018.
Back home, Captain Gqabu is SAMSA’s Principal Officer for the Southern Region, based in East London in the Eastern Cape Province. He has been with SAMSA since 2009.
In addition, Capt. Gqabu is a trustee and a vice-chairman of the Lawhill Maritime Educational Trust – supporting educational aspirations and needs of youths involved with the Simon’s Town-based maritime education foundation level institution, the Lawhill Maritime Centre – an involvement he says he is passionate about.
The IOMOU recently announced that member States would be embarking on a Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on Safety of Navigation for a three months period beginning on Friday, 1 September 2017 through to 30 November 2017.
The campaign will be conducted simultaneously with the Paris MoU, Tokyo MoU and other MoUs, said the committee. It said the purpose of the exercise is to verify compliance by industry role players with applicable requirements of SOLAS Conventions, the overall status of vessels’ navigation safety and the competency of crews involve in navigation operations. source: SAMSA[/restrict]
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TANZANIA SIGNS CONTRACT FOR NEW LAKE VICTORIA FERRY
The Government of Tanzania has signed a contract for the construction of a new ferry to operate on Lake Victoria, between Kigongo and Busisi.
Tanzania Electrical, Mechanical and Electronics Services Agency (Temesa) CEO, Dr Mussa Mgwatu, said the…[restrict] 250-tonne ferry should be completed in January 2018.
The new ferry is to be built locally in Mtwara by Songoro Marine Transport Boat Yard Limited and will be capable of accommodating 36 vehicles and 1000 passengers.
Once completed the number of Tanzanian ferries operating between Kigongo and Busisi will increase to four.
The other three ferries are named MISUNGWI (250-tonnes, similar to the new ferry), SENGEREMA (170-tonnes, 490 passengers, 18 vehicles), and SABASABA (330 passengers, 10 vehicles).
Dr Mgwatu said a fourth ferry was necessary in order to minimise the time spent waiting for a ferry to return.[/restrict]
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BOLLORÉ TO ACQUIRE INTEREST IN SOME OF NECOTRANS BUSINESS
Bolloré Transport & Logistics will be acquiring some of the business activities and assets in France and Africa of the Necotrans Group, which was recently placed under judicial receivership.
This takeover plan will enable Bolloré Transport & Logistics to strengthen and develop its transport and logistics positions in France and Africa, and also to develop private-public port operation partnerships.
Bolloré said in a statement that all the acquired activities correspond to…[restrict] two high-priority objectives: facilitate access to the African continent for all Bolloré Transport & Logistics customers in France and worldwide, and consolidate and diversify the company’s port operation activities on Africa’s Atlantic coast.
A commitment to preserve jobs
Bolloré said it is committed to preserving as many jobs as possible during this acquisition, adding that the project has won the support of Necotrans personnel representative bodies.
In France, 71 employment contracts will be maintained unchanged and it is expected that about 30 other jobs could be saved – with the same seniority and wage levels – thanks to existing openings within Bolloré Transport & Logistics.
In Africa, at least 260 jobs will be preserved in six African countries where the Group already operates: Senegal, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin and Congo.
Bolloré said that all Necotrans entities and employees involved in the Bolloré Transport & Logistics takeover will benefit from Bolloré’s solid financial support. “For 195 years, the Group’s development policy has always been based on strong entrepreneurial values, a stable shareholder base and long term investment. Over 300 million euros are invested annually in modernizing and diversifying services and in developing high-tech logistics solutions.”
It said that this takeover by Bolloré is a guarantee for all Necotrans customers who will in future enjoy all the advantages of Bolloré Transport & Logistics human and technical expertise around the world, notably in freight purchasing, supply chain management and commercial representation.
The partial takeover approved by the Commercial Court of Paris is part of larger joint offer that aims to secure a very large part of Necotrans Group’s business and assets, in consortium with three international groups with a proven track record in transport and logistics.
About Bolloré Transport & Logistics
Bolloré Transport & Logistics is a global leader in international transport and logistics (it is the 5th biggest European group, 10th biggest worldwide and leader in Africa). 36,700 employees are spread around 105 countries in four businesses: Bolloré Ports, Bolloré Logistics, Bolloré Railways, Bolloré Energy. Bolloré Ports operate around the world with 21 container terminal concessions, 25 dry ports and seven RORO terminals. Bolloré Logistics has a network of 602 offices and manages 1,800,000 m² of warehouse storage around the world. In Cameroon alone Bolloré Transport & Logistics employs about 5,000 people.[/restrict]
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ANGOLA TO SPEND NEARY US$100 MILLION ON MAINTAINING RAILWAY NETWORK
The Angolan government has announced plans to spend US$97.9 million on maintenance of the Luanda and Benguela railway lines, which were earlier rehabilitated.
The $42.9 million contract for the 424-km Luanda (or Angola) Railway has been awarded to the China Railway International Group (CRIG) and is based on the ‘technical inability’ of the Caminho-de-Ferro de Luanda company to ‘carry out line maintenance work that ensures the safety of its operation.’
The Benguela Railway contract, worth $55 million, has…[restrict] been awarded to the China Railway 20 Bureau Group Corporation (CR20) which will undertake the maintenance programme on behalf of the Caminhos-de-Ferro de Benguela (CFB) which operates the railway from the port city of Lobito a distance of 1,344-km to the DRC border at Luau.
Reconstruction of the Benguela Railway, or CFB, was completed in 2015. This was after Angola’s rail network was largely destroyed during Angola’s 27-year civil war. Its reconstruction, including the 860-km Moçamedes line, cost nearly US$3.5 billion between 2005 and 2015. The project was undertaken by Chinese companies and involved 2,612 km of railway lines and the construction of 151 new stations.
It was part of the original contracts with the Chinese companies that maintenance programmes would be awarded to them also. sources: Lusa, Macauhub and Africa PORTS & SHIPS[/restrict]
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DREDGING: JAN DE NUL LAUNCHES WORLD’S MOST POWERFUL CUTTER DREDGER
The world’s most powerful cutter dredger has been launched at the Uljanik Shipyard in Croatia by Mrs Julie De Nul, who released the self-propelled Cutter Suction Dredger WILLEM VAN RUBROECK into the water last Friday (25 August 2017) by cutting the traditional ties of the rope.
The delivery of the vessel…[restrict] will take place in 2018.
The new dredger has a length of 151.3 m, a width of 36m and can develop a speed of 12 knots. It has an installed power of 40,975 kW, making it the world’s most powerful cutter dredger. It makes us of two retractable thrusters with a total power of 6,000 kW and three dredging pumps with a total power of 25,500 kW, of which two are located in the pump room and one in the cutter ladder.
This vessel will have a cutter power of 8,500kW and will be able to dredge compact sand, clay and rocks up to 45m deep. The operation, controlled from a central station, is almost completely automated. The vessel will have a high standard accommodation for 67 crew members.[/restrict]
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BAKER HUGHES AWARDED SECOND CONTRACT FOR MOZAMBIQUE’S CORAL SOUTH FLNG
Baker Hughes, a GE Company (BHGE) has been awarded a second contract to provide rotating equipment for the power and gas refrigeration process of the Eni East Africa’s (EEA) Coral South FLNG development, offshore Mozambique in the Rovuma Basin.
The rotating equipment including aeroderivative gas turbines for power and gas refrigeration processes of the new Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) facility, are the first-ever built in Africa, for Africa.
This is the second major contract award for Coral South FLNG project, with BHGE also providing leading subsea technologies and services for the development of Rovuma basin Area 4 gas resources.
BHGE will also supply…[restrict] Boil-Off Gas (BOG) and booster compressors capable of operating at -180° C to re-liquefy excessive BOG evaporating out of the LNG storage tanks.
The contract underlines the company’s position as the world’s first and only integrated fullstream provider of products, services and digital solutions that maximise productivity, efficiency and cost reduction.
The contract was awarded by a joint venture formed by TechnipFMC and JGC Corporation, the lead partner in a consortium that will provide engineering, procurement, construction, installation, commissioning and start-up (EPCIC) of Coral South’s FLNG facility.
The second contract consists of four Turbo-compression trains for mix refrigeration services, using the company’s aeroderivative gas turbine (model PGT25+G4) technology and driving its centrifugal compressors. In addition, the company will provide four Turbo-generation units, also driven by aeroderivative gas turbines (model PGT25+G4).
The components of the turbo compressor trains and turbo-generation units will be manufactured at BHGE Nuovo Pignone facility in Florence, Italy where the train will be assembled, and tested in the Massa facility, Italy.
Demonstrating the benefits for customers of BHGE’s access to the GE Store – where the company can draw technologies (such as the gas turbines derived from the Aviation business) and expertise from multiple industries – the Turbo-generation units will be equipped with electric generators provided by the GE Power Conversion business.
“Coral South LNG is an enormously important development for Mozambique and the region – the first new-built FLNG facility to be installed in Africa and one of only a small number in the world today,” said Rod Christie, President and CEO, Turbomachinery & Process Solutions, BHGE.
“These awards further underline BHGE’s position as a fullstream provider of smart, cost-effective advanced technology and solutions to drive reliability, flexibility, efficiency and productivity for major energy developments, while building on our relationships with oil and gas operators and our technical expertise that has been a true differentiator in this project.”
The Coral South FLNG project, the first phase of EEA’s wider plan of development for the world-class gas discoveries made in the Rovuma Basin Area 4, will see the installation of an FLNG facility with a capacity of around 3.4 MTPA, fed by six subsea wells and expected to produce around 5 TCF of gas during its 25 years of production, with an anticipated start-up in mid-2022. The first ever offshore project to start producing gas in Mozambique, it will provide significant local economic benefits through job creation and support the region’s future energy needs.
EEA is the operator of Area 4, and holds 70% participation interest in the Area 4 Concession. Eni (71.43%) and CNPC (28.57%) are shareholders of EEA.[/restrict]
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RIMS REGISTERED BY BUREAU VERITAS AS SUPPLIER OF AERIAL DRONES
RIMS BV (Robotics In Maintenance Strategies) has become the first company to receive an attestation from Bureau Veritas (BV) Marine & Offshore, as an approved service supplier, allowing the use of Remote Inspection Techniques (drones) during surveys of hull structure of ships and mobile offshore units classed with BV.
RIMS are a global provider of high tech, safe, autonomous and sustainable surveying and maintenance solutions. They supply and provide services which aid with the replacement of old and expensive, slower, high-risk and resource-intensive maintenance activities, with new smarter drone and robotic technologies.
It is anticipated that the use of drones to carry out inspections of enclosed spaces will not only reduce the time to carry out scheduled survey work but will improve visual records, while minimising risk, bringing substantial benefits to owners, insurers and classification societies.
“To receive approval from Bureau Veritas is a real breakthrough for us in the shipping industry,” said David Knukkel, CEO of RIMS BV. “To be acknowledged by one of the largest established and respected class societies shows that we are on the right track to deliver safe and approved drone surveys for the marine industry.”
About RIMS
RIMS is a global project and maintenance consultancy to help revolutionise maintenance strategies with smart drones and robotic technologies. RIMS’ high tech expertise in combination with smart asset management solutions means customers benefit from much safer, more sustainable and cost-efficient surveying and maintenance solutions.
Further information can be found by visiting: www.rims-bv.com
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EXPECTED SHIP ARRIVALS and SHIPS IN PORT
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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.
The bulk carrier with the suggestion of Spartan roots in its name is MYSTRAS (57,300-dwt), seen here arriving in Durban earlier in August. As if to disprove this assumption, the ship is owned by a London-registered company and managed by Helikon Shipping Enterprises which also happens to be listed in the British capital. Helikon operates a fleet of eight ships, all bearing Greek names so we’re betting on Greek interests in the ownership of and ship management. The 190 metre long, 32m wide Mystras was built in 2013 and flies the flag of the Bahamas. This picture is by Keith Betts
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
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– André Gide
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