TODAY’S BULLETIN OF MARITIME NEWS
Click on headline to go direct to story : use the BACK key to return
- First View : Maydon Wharf 14
- Ukraine takes delivery of 675,000 tonnes of South African anthracite coal
- Hapag-Lloyd adds Pointe Noire to South America – South Africa service
- Nigerian Customs nab another cache of smuggled weapons at Tin Can Island
- Dangote says Africa will become the food basket of the world
- IUMI calls for better fire-fighting provisions as container ships grow larger
- World War 1 submarine found in 30 metres of water off port of Ostend
- Namibian Snippets – not ready for the Africa Free Trade Area
- PRESS RELEASE: Where to invest in Africa report
- Expected Ship Arrivals and Ships in Port
- Cruise News and Naval Activities
- Pics of the Day : PACIFIC DILIGENCE & TINA
SEND NEWS REPORTS AND PRESS RELEASES TO
info@africaports.co.za
News continues below
This aerial picture shows the top or Bayhead end of the historic Maydon Wharf, now undergoing modernisation and conversion into deepwater berths and other berthing refinements. The ship on berth 14 is CARO PADRE and the blue-roof building beyond is Transnet Engineering’s Shop 24, which among other services caters for ship repair at the dry dock (glimpsed at extreme right) and the Shop 24 ship repair berths. Also seen in this picture is INDLOVU, the giant floating crane capable of lifting in excess of 220 tonnes. The picture is by ships agent, Anup Rampiar
News continues below
UKRAINE TAKES DELIVERY OF 675,000 TONNES OF SOUTH AFRICAN ANTHRACITE COAL
A fifth shipment of South African anthracite coal has arrived in the Ukraine for DTEK Energy’s Prydniprovska and Kryvy Rih thermal power plants (TPPs).
The 75,000 tons of the coal was being discharged over an anticipated three days this week from a bulk carrier, the MIN SHENG 1 (812,659-dwt, built 2012), while another bulk carrier, SEMIRAMIS (82,620-dwt, built 2013) was reported as having arrived in the port of Yuzhny on 17 September with 80,000 tonnes of anthracite and had almost completed her discharge.
Both ships had loaded at…[restrict] Richards Bay.
The shipments of anthracite coal form part of a contract for 675,000 tonnes to be shipped to the Ukraine for the energy company to accumulate resources to ensure a stable operating during the winter months ahead.
“In October we expect the arrival in Ukraine of an additional 150,000 tonnes of South African coal to create necessary stocks in the warehouses of our TPP on the eve of the heating season,” DTEK Energy Commercial Director Vitaliy Butenko said.
In April the company announced that it had purchased 675,000 tonnes of coal in South Africa, with an option to increase the order to one million tonnes.
In a statement the company said this was the first time in Ukraine’s history when such significant amounts of anthracite were bought in distant markets in such a short time.
“The fuel will be shipped to DTEK’s anthracite thermal power plants (TPP), which will be put in operation to maintain the stability of the energy system of Ukraine,” the company said back then. “DTEK is beginning to form anthracite reserves at its TPPs in preparation for the autumn-winter period of 2017-2018. Currently Kryvy Rih and Prydniprovska TPPs have been suspended for accumulation of anthracite. If it is necessary to cover power shortage in the energy system, the stations will be switched on under the command of dispatchers of Ukraine’s united energy system,” the energy holding said.
Ukraine says that it estimates that in 18 months time the country’s two above-mentioned power stations will no longer have to import anthracite coal, as the plants are being converted to burn gas coal in future. Currently the two burn a total of 10,000 tonnes a day.
Ukraine possesses one of the largest coal deposits in the world, with an estimated 100 years supply still available. However it has been forced to import anthracite in recent years following shortages after supplies from Russia and territories controlled by pro-Russian separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk regions were suspended. At one stage in 2015 the thermal power plants were operating with enough coal stocks to last just one month.[/restrict]
News continues below
HAPAG-LLOYD ADDS POINTE NOIRE TO SOUTH AMERICA – SOUTH AFRICA SERVICE
German shipping company Hapag-Lloyd has announced an enhancement to its port coverage on the existing South America – South Africa Triangle Service (SAT) by the addition of Pointe Noire to the port rotation. Hapag-Lloyd shares the service with Hamburg Süd and Nile Dutch.
This comes into effect from next month (October) commencing with the sailing of GERHARD SCHULTE on voyage 224W, from which time the SAT port rotation becomes:
Cape Town – Durban – Port Elizabeth – Luanda – Pointe Noire* – Navegantes – Paranagua – Santos – Rio de Janeiro*
* alternating Rio de Janeiro and Pointe Noire calls:
All CMA CGM vessels call Rio de Janeiro, but do not call Pointe Noire.
All Hamburg Süd and Nile Dutch vessels do not call Rio de Janeiro, but call Pointe Noire.
Coinciding with this enhancement, Hapag-Lloyd has announced that Bolloré Africa Logistics Congo, Avenue de Loango, BP 616 Pointe-Noire has become its new agency in Pointe Noire.
MV Gerhard Schulte 224W, will be the first sailing following the enhanced SAT port rotation (above).
SAT Transit Times:
News continues below
NIGERIAN CUSTOMS NAB ANOTHER CACHE OF SMUGGLED WEAPONS AT TIN CAN ISLAND
Nigeria’s Customs Services (NCS) has intercepted yet another container of smuggled weapons, just one week after a 20ft container filled with 1100 pump-action rifles was seized and confiscated. Earlier this year they prevented several other shipments from passing into the wrong hands by stopping containers of weapons and ammunition also at Tin Can Island.
The latest smuggled weapons were shipped at…[restrict] a port in Turkey.
According to unconfirmed reports the latest container held approximately 475 pump-action rifles. The container belonged to the same trader who was responsible for the 1100 weapons seized last week. Documents for the seized container stated it contained wash basins and water closets (loos).
It turns out that the two latest containers most likely arrived at the same time but one had remained in the terminal after the first was intercepted last week. After realising the two had been imported by the same trader the second was located and opened for inspection, revealing additional smuggled weapons.
Details of the trader have not been revealed, which has aroused some suspicion in Nigeria, with thoughts that a government agency may have been the importer.
In an unrelated incident, motor vehicles are reportedly being smuggled across Nigeria’s land borders, including 18 exotic bullet-proof cars. Bullet-proof cars outside of government vehicles and other authorised users are apparently banned in Nigeria. source: This Day[/restrict]
News continues below
DANGOTE SAYS AFRICA WILL BECOME FOOD BASKET OF THE WORLD
Aliko Dangote at UN General Assembly in New York: “Africa will become the food basket of the world”; “Five of the twelve million jobs needed in Africa soon must be created in Nigeria”; “We should pray that oil prices remain low”
New York, USA, 20 September 2017 – Nigerian business leader Aliko Dangote told investors “Agriculture, agriculture, agriculture. Africa will become the food basket of the world.”
In a packed room at the headquarters of global law firm Shearman and Sterling LLC high level business leaders and international diplomats invited by the Corporate Council for Africa to hear Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, and Rwandan president Paul Kagame openly converse on Africa’s opportunities and challenges.
Both leaders underscored the ongoing movement to diversify African economies. In the case of…[restrict] Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, Dangote stated “we should pray that oil prices remain low. This helps wean us off the dependency on revenues from petroleum. We must take oil to be the icing on the cake. We already have the cake,” he added.
In addition to agriculture Dangote cited Nigeria’s vast mineral resources and gas as well and the need to manufacture more goods locally for domestic consumption. Both he and President Kagame cited continued need for heavy investments in education and connected the need for young people to be well trained for the jobs of tomorrow.
Dangote predicted that “five of the twelve million jobs needed in Africa soon must be created in Nigeria.”
Dangote’s fortune which stems from cement, sugar and other household commodities has expanded into fertiliser and other processed high-value goods. “Technology of course helps us a lot and our factories are state of the art with the use of robotics but we shouldn’t be overly tech oriented to create wealth,” he told investors.
Mr Dangote, who is often cited as one of the most inspiring business leaders in the world today and a model for young entrepreneurs, offered advice to Americans who tend to rely on outdated news and wrong perceptions of Africa, “Don’t be lazy. Go there and find the real story for yourself. Things have changed.”
Dangote noted the Rwanda success story where he has business interests as an example of positive change, good governance and leadership, and where corruption has been cured. He cited a personal experience of offering a $100 US tip for services at the Kigali Airport to staff who refused to take money for work they were paid to do. President Kagame was praised for delivering the environment for growth he promised. “There is nothing African about corruption,” the Rwandan president added.
The session was moderated by Rosa Whitaker, former US Trade Representative and author of the AGOA (African Growth Opportunity Act), whose business consultancy is credited for helping both African governments and US companies develop commerce. – APO Group correspondent at UN General Assembly in New York.
Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, and Rwandan president Paul Kagame openly converse on Africa’s opportunities and challenges in this short video YouTube clip [0:30]
[/restrict]
News continues below
IUMI CALLS FOR BETTER FIRE-FIGHTING PROVISIONS AS CONTAINER SHIPS GROW LARGER
With the growing size of container vessels, and a recent spate of fires on board these ships, the International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI) says it is concerned that current firefighting provisions are insufficient.
On Tuesday this week (19 September) the IUMI published a position paper calling for better on board firefighting systems for container vessels.
Fires on board container vessels are very real threats, it states. Recent examples include fires on NNCI Arauco (9,000 TEU) in September 2016 during welding operations whilst alongside in Hamburg, Hanjin Pennsylvania (4,000 TEU) in…[restrict] November 2002 claiming the lives of two crew members and resulting in a constructive total loss; and MSC Flaminia (6,732TEU) in July 2012, resulting in three fatalities and also a constructive total loss.
IUMI says that whilst it expressly welcomes the 2014 amendment to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) to increase the effectiveness of firefighting, the association believes more should be done.
“Recent amendments to SOLAS are a move in the right direction but they do not go far enough,” said Helle Hammer, IUMI Political Forum Chairman. “The legal requirements prescribed by SOLAS were originally developed for fires on board general cargo vessels and these ships are structurally very different to a container vessel; and cargo is stored differently. We believe the mode of firefighting set out in SOLAS is not suitable for a modern containership.”
IUMI supports as best practice a proposal presented by the German Insurance Association GDV that sets out an improved concept for firefighting facilities on board a containership.
“We believe a new technical solution is needed to improve current firefighting practice on container vessels, particularly as these ships are continuing to grow in size,” says Uwe-Peter Schieder, Marine and Loss Prevention, GDV.
“We suggest creating individual fire compartments below deck to prevent fire from spreading. These compartments would be fitted with fixed Co2 and water-based firefighting systems. Boundary structures would also be fitted above deck to align with the water-cooled bulkheads below and also fitted with fixed fire-fighting systems. In addition, we also recommend the installation of enhanced fire detection systems.”
Mindful of the increasing size and complexity of modern containerships, IUMI believes that it is necessary for further steps to be taken to improve the safety of the crew, the cargo and the ships themselves. It recommends further discussions with the IMO, flag states, class and relevant industry stakeholders on how best to improve the fire detection, protection and firefighting capabilities on board container vessels.
* GDV’s suggestions and IUMI’s position paper can be found by CLICKING HERE[/restrict]
News continues below
WORLD WAR 1 SUBMARINE FOUND IN 30 METRES OF WATER OFF PORT OF OSTEND
A World War 1 German submarine has been discovered by divers in 30 metres of water off the Port of Ostend in Belgium.
Although the submarine’s identity is unknown at this stage, it is thought that based on the submarines good condition, the bodies of perhaps 23 submariners will still be onboard.
Divers and marine archaeologists have discovered and identified 11 submarines from the First World War sunk off the Belgian coast but this latest one remains a mystery. To deter other divers made curious by the reports, the submarine’s exact location is being kept secret.
The submarine has however been identified as a type UB-11 torpedo-carrying boat. This type was 36 metres overall in length and displaced 324 tons. The wreck found off Ostend is only 27 metres long due to a section of its rear being detached.
The type UB II submarine was described as a coastal torpedo attack boat. A total of 30 were commissioned – 18 were built by Blohm+Voss of Hamburg and 12 by AG Weser of Bremen.
One of those involved in discovering the submarine said another dive was to be undertaken to clear some of the boat and reveal its identity. German authorities would be contacted but it is thought it unlikely that they would want to recover the bodies, in which case the submarine will become an official war grave.
News continues below
NAMIBIAN SNIPPETS – NOT YET READY FOR THE AFRICA FREE TRADE AREA
Namibia is not ready to engage in the proposed African Continent Free Trade Area, according to stakeholders involved at the national level consultation on the initiative, the Namibia Press Agency reported.
On Tuesday a [restrict] one-day consultation was held where various trade unions, faith-based organisations, academia, youth groups, government officials and the private sector deliberated on the CFTA’s developmental impact on Namibian people, in particular, and SADC in general. Sylvester Wullo Bagooro, from Third World Network-Africa, who was a guest speaker at the consultation cautioned the participants on the negative impact of the deadline on which they will have to approve the content of the agreement, which is December this year. source: tralac
Namibia’s exports remain under pressure
Latest trade statistics of the second quarter of 2017 posted on the Namibia Statistics Agency’s website and quoted in The Namibian show that Namibia only experienced an annual increase in two of the top five products, being diamonds and livestock, while copper ore, cathodes and fish all recorded a decline.
By destination, only exports to South Africa and Belgium recovered, compared to last year.
Ngoni Bopoto, a research analyst at Namibia Equity Brokers, described the latest figures as “concerning.” The latest trade statistics further show that imports from SACU member states (mainly South Africa) declined marginally 0,3% from the first quarter of 2017 and substantially 15,1%, compared to the second quarter of 2016, which is negative for receipts from the SACU pool.
South Africa continues to be the main source of domestic imports, accounting for 60,4% (N$12,152bn) of total imports. This is followed by Botswana with a 6,9% (N$1,394bn) share of imports. In third place was Bulgaria, which registered an import expenditure of N$879m and accounted for a market share of 4,4%. Zambia and China accounted for 4,3% (N$872m) and 3,7% (N$752m) of total imports, respectively. source: tralac & The Namibian
* One N$ equals One ZAR Rand[/restrict]
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.
WHERE TO INVEST IN AFRICA REPORT
South Africa falls from top position and Nigeria drops out of the Top 10
Rand Merchant Bank’s seventh edition of Where to Invest in Africa presents some interesting changes in its ratings of the continent’s most attractive investment destinations.
One of the most important findings of Rand Merchant Bank’s (RMB) seventh edition of Where to Invest in Africa is that the African continent could find itself hovering on the brink of disaster if it continues to depend on its current economic fundamentals and does not usher in economic diversification. Where to Invest in Africa 2018 highlights those countries which have understood the need to…[restrict] adapt to the prolonged slowdown in commodity prices and sluggish levels of production growth – and those which haven’t.
The theme for Where to Invest in Africa 2018 is “Money Talks” and this edition “follows the money” on the African continent to evaluate aspects crucial to each country’s economic performance. The report focuses on the main sources of dollar revenues in Africa which allows it to measure the most important income generators and identify investment opportunities.
“Over the past three years, some African governments have had to implement deep and painful budget cuts, announce multiple currency devaluations and adopt hawkish monetary policy stances – all as a result of a significant drop in traditional revenues,” says RMB Africa analyst and co-author of Where to Invest in Africa 2018 Celeste Fauconnier.
“Some countries have been more nimble and effective than others in managing shortfalls,” says Nema Ramkhelawan-Bhana, also RMB Africa analyst and an author of the report. “But major policy dilemmas have ensued, forcing governments to balance economically prudent solutions with what is politically palatable.”
“The last three years have sounded an alarm, amplifying what is now a dire need for the economies of Africa to shift their focus from traditional sources of income to other viable alternatives,” says Neville Mandimika, RMB Africa analyst and contributor to Where to Invest in Africa 2018
“These years have exposed a number of African nations to severe economic stress – especially that of liquidity shortages. Unfortunately, there is no quick fix to infuse into a context as complex as this, and traditional forms of revenue will remain a reality for many years to come,” says Ronak Gopaldas, RMB Africa analyst and co-author.
In this edition of Where to Invest in Africa 2018, RMB’s Investment Attractiveness Index, which balances economic activity against the relative ease of doing business, illustrates how subdued levels of economic activity have diluted several scores on the index when compared to last year, resulting in some interesting movements within the Top 10.
Notable omissions from the Top 10 this year are Nigeria and Algeria, which have fallen from numbers six and 10 to numbers 13 and 15 respectively. Ethiopia and Rwanda, on the other hand, have climbed three and four places respectively.
But probably the most notable change is that South Africa has fallen from first place for the first time since the inception of the report, ceding its place to Egypt which is now Africa’s most attractive investment destination.
Egypt displaced South Africa largely because of its superior economic activity score and sluggish growth rates in South Africa, which have deteriorated markedly over the past seven years. South Africa also faces mounting concerns over issues of institutional strength and governance though in South Africa’s favour are its currency, equity and capital markets which are still a cut above the rest, with many other African nations facing liquidity constraints.
Morocco retained its third position for a third consecutive year having benefitted from a greatly enhanced operating environment since the “Arab Spring” which began in 2010. Surprisingly, Ethiopia, a country dogged by socio-political instability, displaced Ghana to take fourth spot mostly because of its rapid economic growth, having brushed past Kenya as the largest economy in East Africa. Ghana’s slide to fifth position was mostly due to perceptions of worsening corruption and weaker economic freedom.
Kenya holds firm in the Top 10 at number six. Despite being surpassed by Ethiopia, investors are still attracted by Kenya’s diverse economic structure, pro-market policies and brisk consumer spending growth. A host of business-friendly reforms aimed at rooting out corruption and steady economic growth helped Tanzania climb by two places to number seven. Rwanda re-entered the Top 10 having spent two years on the periphery, helped by being one of the fastest reforming economies in the world, high real growth rates and its continuing attempt to diversify its economy.
At number nine, Tunisia has made great strides in advancing political transition while an improved business climate has been achieved by structural reforms, greater security and social stability. Cote d’Ivoire slipped two places to take up the tenth position. Although its business environment scoring is still relatively low, its government has made significant strides in inviting investment into the country leading to a strong increase in foreign direct investment over the years resulting in one of the fastest growing economies in Africa.
For the first time, Nigeria does not feature in the Top 10, with its short-term investment appeal having been eroded by recessionary conditions. Uganda is steadily closing in on the Top 10 though market activity is likely to remain subdued after a tumultuous 2016 marred by election-related uncertainty, a debilitating drought and high commercial lending rates. Though Botswana, Mauritius and Namibia are widely rated as investment grade economies, they do not feature in the Top 10 mostly because of the relatively small sizes of their markets – market size has been a key consideration in the report’s methodology.
Where to Invest in Africa 2018 also includes 191 jurisdictions around the world, and measures Africa’s performance relative to other country groupings. The unfortunate reality is that African countries are still at the lower end of the global-performance spectrum, which continues to be dominated by the US, UK, Australia and Germany.[/restrict]
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.
PICS OF THE DAY : PACIFIC DILIGENCE & TINA
A tug and tow which we first reported here on 18 September, entered the port at Durban yesterday where the tow, a fully laden bulker named TINA (75,933-dwt, built 2000), will undergo repairs. Tina was voyaging from Brazil when she required assistance. The tow was conducted by the impressive offshore 92-metre long Swire Pacific Offshore D class tug, PACIFIC DILIGENCE (6,641-gt, built 2013) and the entry into Durban was assisted by four port harbour tugs, including the newly built and commissioned UMBILO. These pictures taken in heavy overcast conditions are by Keith Betts
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
“And whatever your labours and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.”
– – Max Ehrmann, ‘Desiderata’
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 |
