TODAY’S BULLETIN OF MARITIME NEWS
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- First View : HIGH POWER
- Parliament grills Transnet on Gupta links
- Northern Mozambique Logistics Alliance Launched
- Combined Task Force 151 to conduct security op off Somali and Socotra coasts
- Nigerian Navy takes delivery of next two patrol vessels
- Seatrade Europe opens as keel is laid for next LNG ship generation
- Saldanha fishermen slam new marine bill
- Thordon, IMarEST call for full acceptance of water lubricated propulsion system
- Expected Ship Arrivals and Ships in Port
- Cruise News and Naval Activities
- Pics of the Day : WO LONG SONG
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The arrival of tankers in Durban harbour are an everyday occurrence – not surprising considering that more than 80% of South Africa oil and fuel arrives via this port or its SBM directly outside the harbour. One of these arrivals towards the end of August was this smart looking oil products tanker, HIGH POWER (46,866-dwt), built in 2004 and sailing under the flag of Panama. The vessel is owned by Singapore interests and managed and operated by New Ocean Shipmanagement also of Singapore. This picture is by Trevor Jones
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PARLIAMENT GRILLS TRANSNET ON GUPTA LINKS
“You are going to jail! Stop protecting your bosses.”
By Sune Payne
On Tuesday (5 September), Transnet officials came under fire in Parliament at a meeting of the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry. They faced a barrage of questions about connections to the Gupta-linked Tequesta Group.
Although Transnet was called before the Committee to report back on its efforts to localise the manufacturing of locomotives, the Committee was more interested in Transnet’s multi-billion rand contract with a Hong Kong subsidiary of China South Rail (CSR) which won a tender to supply 359 locomotives to Transnet in 2014.
CSR contracted the Tequesta Group as a consultant. According to the agreement‚ which surfaced amid the “Gupta leaks” published in July, Tequesta would earn a 21% cut of every deal with CSR. This amounted to about R5.3bn since 2014 it was reported at the time. The Gupta company received R10 million for every R50 million locomotive sold to CSR.
The Committee was also not impressed that Transnet CEO Siyabonga Gama did not attend as he was on his way back from a BRICS summit with President Zuma.
The Committee was left to direct its questions at the 20-person delegation from Transnet, which avoided answering direct questions on corruption. Officials would only refer to an internal investigation currently underway. This prompted a clearly irate committee chairperson, Joanmariae Fubbs, to ask, “Who is working at Transnet?”
She said another meeting would be held to allow Gama to address the Committee on the damning allegations. This would be at Transnet’s expense, she said. Fubbs reminded Transnet officials that they “work at the state’s pleasure” and they must adhere to a summons from the committee.
DA MP Dean Macpherson said: “Transnet is a hotbed for state capture with its levels of corruption.” He repeatedly asked whether or not there would be consequences for Transnet officials found to have been involved in corruption and state capture allegations. He asked if they would be held accountable for their actions.
Macpherson asked why Transnet would not suspend the contracts until the internal investigation was completed. “Surely we cannot allow for money to be flowing offshore to a company in Hong Kong that supplies the Guptas. It is unacceptable,” he said.
Transnet Chief Legal Counsel Niphiwe Silinga said: “I admit we do have a contract with CSR, who is alleged to have given money to Tequesta.” He denied that Transnet had direct business with Tequesta, but said that would form part of the investigation.
EFF MP Elsabe Ntlangwini told Transnet officials: “You are going to jail! Stop protecting your bosses.”
Published originally on
GroundUp
© 2017 GroundUp. 
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NORTHERN MOZAMBIQUE LOGISTICS ALLIANCE LAUNCHED
Subtech Mozambique, Alpha Logistics and LBH Mozambique have recently signed an MoU to enhance their suite of services in Mozambique to be able to offer a holistic logistics and services solution starting specifically with activities in and around the small but strategically located port of Mocimboa da Praia.
All three of the companies in the Mocimboa Alliance have a long history in Mozambique operations and have been involved in or had some input in almost every capital infrastructure related project in Mozambique.
The Mocimboa Alliance will culminate in a specially focussed joint venture company within months but is already capable of combining their individual offerings to be able to service all marine or logistics based requirements. The joined capabilities of the companies make a powerful, robust and dynamic logistics solution ideally suited for the environment and infrastructural development ahead in Northern Mozambique.
The MoU conjoins the strengths and abilities of the Mocimboa Alliance covering diving, materials handling, clearing and forwarding, ships agency, waste management and environmental services.
LBH Mozambique MD, Athol Emerton stated “LBH has been active along with Subtech and Alpha on the Mozambique coast for decades. It just makes good sense to combine our capabilities in the strategic port of Mocimboa da Praia, literally the closest port to the oil and gas development at Palma. We have no doubt that bigger and more efficient facilities will be built with better draft solutions but right now it is the most convenient logistics hub. Furthermore, the customers don’t have to re-invent the wheel, I am confident that between the three Alliance partners we can create a rapid logistics solution for materials in and out of Northern Mozambique.”
Arif Kurji, Director of Alpha Group, based in Mombasa has also stressed that the plateau of Northern Mozambique poses a unique set of challenges due to the extended length of its continental shelf. This is one of the reasons that Alpha Logistics has, over the last three years, invested in a set of specialised multi-purpose units to suit shallow draft conditions. The investment includes multi-purpose specialised landing crafts, barges, shallow vessels, and jack-up’s suited for the Afungi area.
The synergy between Subtech, LBH and Alpha Logistics perfectly complement one another to comprehensively cover a wide array of services. More importantly, the three companies all have a vast amount of local knowledge and experience, having all been based in the region for the last 30 years.
Neil Scott Williams, Managing Director of Subtech Inshore, sees enormous synergy and practical solutions based on sound local knowledge. “Subtech has been established in Mozambique for 15 years and has developed a world class maritime services offering in-country through local investment and skills development. Offering a logistical solution, based on the combined capability and in-country presence, skills and facilities of Subtech, Alpha and LBH, will produce innovative and client-centred solutions to logistical challenges in the region,” he said.
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COMBINED TASK FROCE 151 TO CONDUCT SECURITY OP OFF SOMALI AND SOCOTRA COASTS
Combined Task Force 151 has announced it will be staging a focused maritime security operation in areas off the Somali Coast and Suqutra (Socotra) Gap between 14 and 28 September 2017.
CTF 151 and UKMTO (UK Maritime Trade Operations) have released a notice of the planned focused operation in the Socotra Gap – between the Somali coast and Socotra Island (see Map above). Multinational naval units, aircraft…[restrict] and personnel will be operating under the Turkish led Combined Task Force 151 (CTF 151) – Counter Piracy.
The aims of the operation are to:
* Deter, disrupt and deny acts of piracy
* Understand and Analyse the Pattern of Life in the area, and
* Reassure the maritime community through overt demonstration of presence.
Merchant vessels are invited to interact with naval ships and are encouraged to provide valuable information as requested by CTF 151.
Contributions to better understanding of Pattern of Life by merchant vessels are highly appreciated.
Mariners are reminded to navigate with caution whilst transiting this area.
Any queries regarding this Notice should ring +44 2392 222060 only for further information. Source: Combined Task Force 151/UKMTO[/restrict]
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NIGERIAN NAVY TAKES DELIVERY OF NEXT TWO PATROL VESSELS
The Nigerian Navy is to be further strengthened with the imminent delivery of two French OCEA-built FPB 72 coastal patrol vessels. Confirmation of the order for the patrol vessels was first announced in February this year, along with news that two FPB 110 patrol vessels had also been ordered.
The latter two are expected…[restrict] to be delivered early in the new year.
The Nigerian Navy had previously taken delivery of three FPB 72 vessels – it is understood that a further three may have been ordered for delivery in 2018.
This follows several similar craft that were acquired by the Nigerian Ports Authority and handed over to the navy in 2012 and 2013, which was reported at the time in PORTS & SHIPS.
The FPB is 24 metres in length and has a top speed of 35 knots. The vessel can be armed with light and heavy machine guns and is capable of carrying a single rigid-hull inflatable boat (RHIB) in addition to 12 other personnel over and above its own crew of ten.
The FPB 110 is a larger vessel of 35 metres in length, can be similarly armed but with the addition of a single 20/30mm cannon and a reported speed of 30 knots. The FPB 110 can carry up to 17 personnel in addition to its own crew.
Faced with criticism over the acts of piracy that have taken place in the Gulf of Guinea and in particular off the Nigerian coast, Nigeria embarked on a ramping up of its naval capability, not only to provide adequate protection to shipping along the coast but also to provide capability of accessing the creeks and rivers along the coast.[/restrict]
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SEATRADE EUROPE OPENS AS KEEL IS LAID FOR NEXT LNG SHIP GENERATION
Seatrade Europe – the leading trade event for the European cruise and river cruise industry – opened yesterday (6 September 2017) with a strong message to the 600-strong delegates that sustainability and environmental responsibility are amongst the key priorities for the cruise industry in 2017.
Talking to delegates as part of the opening ‘Balcony Chat’, Mr Kyriakos Anastassiadis, Chairman, CLIA* Europe and Chief Executive Officer, Celestyal Cruises, said:
“2017 continues to be a record year for…[restrict] cruising with three key priorities that we (as cruise lines) share collaboratively: One – that we do provide an environment that is safe and secure for crew and passengers; two – to be environmentally responsible. As we face increased scrutiny and more questions are asked about how responsible we are, we should be proud of our achievements and better communicate this. We are, after all, at the forefront of embracing technologies and regulations; three – to continue to build sustainable tourism, adding value to each destination and working with local communities to safeguard the environment and also to grow business.”
The discussion moved onto a 9-strong panel session about the ‘Future of cruise industry in Europe’ which led to some lively debate amongst cruise line executives which was overlaid with great optimism about the future of cruising in Germany and across Europe.
Although China has replaced Germany as the world’s second-largest source market for ocean cruise passengers last year, the host country of Seatrade Europe retains a dynamically developing market. Karl J Pojer, CEO of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises and Chairman of CLIA Germany, said he expected further growth. “I do not see why the positive development should not continue,” predicting the three million passenger benchmark could be reached already by 2020 (compared to 2m passengers in 2016).
Pojer added that Germany was a success story driven by innovation, speed and creativity. He described the current market development as healthy; stressing it was not built on price-cutting or a unilateral focus only on volumes. Felix Eichhorn, President of AIDA Cruises, supported this view and said the German market continued to need more capacity. “More ships will drive the market,” fellow panellist Wybcke Meier, CEO of TUI Cruises, confirmed.
Apart from the thriving German market, Europe’s cruise industry leaders have identified the Western Mediterranean source markets (Italy, France and Spain) as another field of growth. Gianni Onorato, CEO, MSC Cruises claimed a higher market penetration was needed in those countries – a view which received strong support from Neil Palomba, President of Costa Crociere. Palomba, who said Italy, France and Spain were picking up after some relatively difficult years owing to the economic crisis which hit Southern Europe in the early 2010s, but confirmed the market penetration was still very low with about or even below one percent. “Cruise lines should not compete against each other, but rather against the land-based tourism,” Palomba suggested.
Keeping the theme of environmental responsibility at the forefront of the conference, delegates were then invited to witness the first virtual keel laying ceremony by Carnival Corporation for AIDAnova, the world’s first fully LNG cruise ship. To much applause, Arnold Donald, President and CEO, Carnival Corporation and key brand leaders, celebrated this landmark occasion.
Mr Arnold Donald said: “Today we step into the future – reducing the environmental footprint using LNG – for the seven new ships for four Carnival Corporation’s global brands – Carnival Cruise Line, P&O Cruises, Costa Cruises and AIDA Cruises – which will feature a revolutionary ‘green cruising’ design and will be the first in the cruise industry to be powered at sea by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) – the world’s cleanest burning fossil fuel.”
The ships, with delivery between 2018 and 2022, will be built by the German and Finnish shipbuilders Meyer Werft and Meyer Turku.
Visitors to Hamburg during this important cruise week have also been able to witness the ‘Blue Port’ illumination which is transforming Hamburg’s waterfront into a big stage for the cruise industry this week on the occasion of Seatrade Europe and Hamburg Cruise Days – the world’s largest consumer cruise event from September 8-10 – drawing half a million visitors and 11 cruise ships.
The installation by light artist Michael Batz has been attracting international attention since 2008. Blue light once again transforms the Hanseatic city’s port into a magically glowing stage after dark. The preparations took an entire year for an installation that spans 8.5 kilometres along both sides of the Elbe. Fifty kilometres of cable were laid down, 15,000 cable ties and 900 sockets were used and more than 20,000 blue lights were attached to distinct buildings, industrial plants and ships within the port. The highest point where lights appear is the 110-metre roof of Elbphilharmonie, the new city landmark.
Also involved are the Speicherstadt and Kontorhausviertel districts, which received UNESCO World Heritage status in 2015. This is the sixth year of the blue waterfront.
Seatrade Europe continues until Friday 8 September 2017 at Hamburg Messe, Hamburg, Germany.
* CLIA – Cruise Lines International Association[/restrict]
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SALDANHA FISHERMEN SLAM NEW MARINE BILL
“Where are we going to fish?” MPs asked during public hearing
By Alicestine October
It was anything but smooth sailing for the Marine Spatial Planning Bill last week when members of Parliament came to consult the fishing community of Saldanha.
Members of Parliament’s portfolio committee on environmental affairs came to consult coastal communities along the West Coast on the bill. The bill is intended to give effect to government’s Operation Phakisa and in particular the focus on the economic potential of the seas. The public participation process was scheduled to conclude in Parliament on Friday (last week).
The bill, Department of Environmental Affairs director Gcobani Popose told community members, would enable an integrated system to guide the development, implementation and monitoring of Marine Spatial Management Plans in the country. This would be better than the ‘silo’ approach and would reduce conflict over the use of resources, and help to ensure these resources are used sustainably and for development.
In his State of the Nation address in 2014 President Jacob Zuma said of Operation Phakisa that South Africa’s oceans had the potential to contribute up to R177 billion to the economy by 2033 compared to R54 billion in 2010. But Saldanha community members, mostly small scale fishermen, wanted to know who would benefit from unlocking economic opportunities.
A fisherman from St Helena Bay, Gerald Cloete, appealed to lawmakers to take into account small scale fishers’ contribution to the formal economy. He said Operation Phakisa was aimed at utilising the economic potential of the ocean. But, he said, “should we not start by first giving proper recognition to these fishermen and their contribution to the existing economy?”
“I am not saying Operation Phakisa will be a stillborn baby, I am not saying it will fail, but my problem is that we first need to recognise the existing economy and small scale fishers are part of that existing economy.”
Popose stressed that the bill would not replace existing legislation in departments such as Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), Mineral resources and Environmental Affairs (as steering department) but would allow for better coordination of planning. This means policies like the controversial fishing quotas and other regulations which are causing an outcry from fishing communities will mainly remain intact – something that Cloete sees as a concern.
“We are sitting with a department (DAFF) causing more trouble for our communities than providing solutions,” said Cloete. He referred to the Marine Protected Areas that limit traditional small scale fishing.
“Some of these are more than 100 years old and this bill highlights the importance of protecting marine resources, but how can we talk about protecting marine resources and then let those like us dependent on them to make a living, languish in poverty?” he asked, to cheers from the audience.
“So I’m asking you, let us start at the beginning and first recognise small scale fishing.”
“There is just no protection from DAFF and government should at least give us some kind of 20% or 30% usage of the Marine Protected Areas.”
Another local fisherman, Christo Koopman, was much more emotional in his plea to lawmakers. “Wamee is die regering nou wee deu’meka” (What is government up to now?). He pointed through the window to the bay, claiming the community was already feeling the impact of government’s Industrial Development Zone which he said had undermined the whole fishing industry in Saldanha.
The Saldanha Bay IDZ, according to its website, is designed to be “a world-class, internationally recognised and respected South African marine engineering hub focused on the international oil and gas sector” which offers surrounding communities an opportunity to “transform their own landscapes of possibility”. But Cloete said what he saw was “gas pipes, and the sea, the traditional fishermen’s primary source of income, turned into an industrial site”.
“We are robbed of our daily bread whilst the IDZ only seems to benefit some people,” Cloete told MPs.
Christian Adams, secretary of Coastal Links, also raised concerns that the bill “seeks to further dispossess small scale fishers and small scale fishing communities of either the fishing grounds they’ve historically fished in or the land adjacent to those fishing grounds”.
“You come here with a presentation telling us that one economy is more important than the other. So what you mean is that if our government decides that the gas and the oil economy is more important than the fishing economy — and we are already seeing this happening outside here — that the fishing economy will cease to exist. That is what this bill is telling me.”
“Just look at the drilling here in the bay for gas and oil by the likes of BHP Billiton. Where is that company based? Does this bill seek to enhance the economic opportunities for SA citizens or is it to benefit multinational companies like BHP, or Arcelor Mittal, the Guptas and them?” Adams asked to approval from fellow fishermen.
He then took a swipe at the public participation process. “The constitution demands that you consult with the public and now that you have, will it actually be taken into consideration? I don’t think so because we have made hundreds of submissions before Parliament,” Adams said waving papers in the air. “We have written hundreds of thousands of words of public comments and nowhere do we see any movement happening for the betterment of the lives of small scale fishers.”
Adams told MPs small scale fishing communities had been fighting for a small scale fisheries policy since 2007. He said Operation Phakisa would create 22 more Marine Protected Areas. “So where are we going to fish? You come, you consult, you tick your box, you leave and it doesn’t matter because we don’t see you again. Yet the decisions you make have a huge impact,” said Adams.
Some of the community members present urged government not to take Phakisa (which in Sesotho means Hurry Up) so literally.
DA Councillor Andre Kruger reminded MPs that good balanced decisions usually took time. “I support the use of the ocean economy to create jobs, but if we hurry we get the situation we have now. Let us make balanced decisions that are best for the economy, the environment and society,” he urged.
Produced for GroundUp by Notes From the House.
Published originally on
GroundUp
© 2017 GroundUp.
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THORDON, IMAREST CALL FOR FULL ACCEPTANCE OF WATER LUBRICATED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
Shipping industry leaders attending London International Shipping Week (LISW) next week will be able to hear the case for water lubricated propeller shafts during an evening technical lecture organised by the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology (IMarEST).
Taking place on Wednesday 13 September at the IMarEST’s London HQ, Thordon Bearings’ regional manager George Morrison, a chartered marine engineer with 23-years’ experience, will present a paper calling for full acceptance of water lubricated propulsion across the global shipping industry.
Outlining how water lubricated propeller shafts have been used…[restrict] since the earliest days of shaft driven propellers, Morrison’s paper Water Lubricated Propulsion – A Case for Full Acceptance will explore the pros and cons of current shaft lubricating methods. It will propose the most environmentally sustainable, cost-effective solutions available and also highlight a myriad of onboard applications for grease-free bearings, such as deck winches, lifeboat davits and cargo cranes.
“The introduction of new pollution regulations has led to a return to seawater lubricated propeller shaft bearing systems, especially for those vessels trading in US or Polar waters, where the discharge of oil from any oil-to-sea interface in quantities that may be harmful to the environment is restricted,” says Morrison.
“The IMarEST Technical Lecture during LISW provides an excellent opportunity to explain how new technology for polymer bearings, shafting materials and system packages not only increase bearing wear life and reduce ship maintenance costs, but can also keep our oceans clean.”
According to Morrison, when seawater lubricated propeller shaft lines are used rather than oil lubricated shafts or pods, operating costs are reduced substantially over the life of the vessel as there is no AFT seal, no lubricating oil, no storage of oil, no sampling of oil and no disposal of oil. Additionally, there are no costly seal repairs that can cost as much as US$300,000 per aft shaft seal.
David Loosley, Chief Executive, IMarEST, says: “The IMarEST’s overarching vision is one of a world where marine resources and activities are sustained, managed and developed for the benefit of humanity. The Institute is always in full support of those seeking to find the most environmentally sound solutions for activities that may impact the marine environment and water lubricated propulsion is one such solution that calls for consideration.”
The lecture will take place at 17h30 (UK time) on Wednesday 13th September but for those that are unable to attend it will be streamed live on IMarEST TV. You can register to view the lecture on-line by CLICKING HERE
About Thordon Bearings
A global leader in seawater lubricated propeller shaft bearing systems, with over 35 years’ experience in this technology, Thordon Bearings is renowned for supplying high performance, oil and grease-free bearing systems to the global marine, clean energy, pump and offshore markets. Thordon Bearings is the only manufacturer of propeller shaft bearings to guarantee its award-winning COMPAC system for a 15-year wear-life. Thordon systems and bearings are available worldwide through over 85 agents and distributors.[/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.
The COSCO freighter WO LONG SONG (17,000-dwt) makes her way out of Durban Bay towards the open Indian Ocean earlier in August. Registered in Hong Kong, the 180-metre long general cargo ship is owned and managed by Cosco Shipping Specialized Carriers Co Ltd, of Guangzhou, Guangdong, in China. This picture is by Keith Betts
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
“When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe.”
– John Muir, 1869
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