Africa PORTS & SHIPS Maritime News

Bringing you shipping, freight, trade and transport related news of interest for Africa since 2002
Bringing you shipping, freight, trade and transport related news of interest for Africa since 2002

TODAY’S BULLETIN OF MARITIME NEWS

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FIRST VIEW: COSCO SHENGSHI

Cosco Shengshi at R berth in Durban, Dec 2016. Picture: Keith Betts, appearing in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news
Cosco Shengshi. Picture: Keith Betts

Cosco’s Ro-Ro car carrier COSCO SHENGSHI (51,553-gt) made a visit to the Port of Durban in December last year in what may have been her first visit and so far only visit – seen here at ‘R’ berth. The ship, whose name apparently means PROSPEROUS DYNASTY, is similar to COSCO TENGFEI which we featured recently (21 August 2017). The car carrier is 183m long and 32m wide and can carry up to 5,000 motor cars when fully laden and was built in 2011 at the Cosco Shipyard in Zhoushan, China at a cost of US$53 million.   This picture is by Keith Betts

 

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LAGOS CONGESTION: IMPORTERS ASKED TO DIVERT CARGO TO WARRI, CALABAR

Apapa Terminal, Lagos. Picture: OTAL, appearing in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news
Apapa Terminal, Lagos. Picture: OTAL

Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has appealed to cargo owners to make use of the ports at Warri and Calabar in order to help remove the congestion applying at Lagos.

The minister’s appeal came in the wake of even more traffic congestion than usual in the streets around the Lagos port, that saw the access roads to Apapa gridlocked and which resulted in the Lagos State Government ordering all articulated trucks, trailers and oil tankers off the roads with immediate effect.

The State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and the…[restrict] State Taskforce on Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit were instructed to deny access to all articulated vehicles.

Minister Fashola said the worse-than-usual traffic congestion was a result on ongoing road rehabilitation on the Apapa Wharf road.

By reducing the volume of traffic arriving at the port the road traffic levels would also decrease, he said, and this could be achieved by moving the cargo to other ports provided the contents were not destined for Lagos itself.

He said everybody needed to be flexible in overcoming the problems. “Importers must bear in mind that we are constructing in a built up area, therefore their flexibility will help us improve service delivery.”

He said the reconstruction phase would result in discomfort for some, “but at the end of the day, if we succeed with what we are doing now and what we plan to do, you will have a better experience this time next year,” he said.

The federal government has plans to raise N100 billion to finance 25 road projects across six geopolitical zones, he said. These 25 roads were integral parts of the A1 to A4 projects, which are each parts of the four main highways.

“A1 is the Lagos to Sokoto highway, A2 is Warri to Katsina, A3 is Port Harcourt to Portiskum in Yobe while A4 is Calabar to Maiduguri.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Steve Ayorinde, told an inter-ministerial news conference at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa that the breakdown of operations at the ports had been identified as the root cause of the gridlock.

“The port operators must solve the problem immediately so that Lagos residents and motorists would enjoy some respite. We appeal to owners of articulated trailers and tankers to stay away from Lagos for now until we resolve the problem.”

“The state government is on top of the situation,” said Adesina Tiamiyu, General Manager of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA). “We will enforce the law to ensure that Lagos is not shutdown,” he said, adding that “this is a challenging time, we have declared an emergency around that area.”[/restrict]

 

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WORLD MARITIME DAY 2017, CONNECTING SHIPS, PORTS & PEOPLE

IMO World Maritime Day 2017 banner, appearing in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news

World Maritime Day 2017 is formally celebrated at IMO (International Maritime Organization) on 28 September 2017. Member States and other entities have been invited to celebrate with activities in the same week, and throughout the year.

Connecting Ships, Ports and People was selected earlier in the year as the World Maritime Day theme for 2017.

This theme was chosen to provide an opportunity to focus on the many diverse activities involved in shipping and logistics.

In an introduction by IMO it was emphasised that the maritime sector, which includes shipping, ports and the people that operate them, can and should play a significant role helping Member States to create conditions for increased employment, prosperity and stability ashore through promoting trade by sea; enhancing the port and maritime sector as wealth creators both on land and, through developing a sustainable blue economy, at sea.

Aim of the 2017 theme is to build on the World Maritime Day theme for 2016, Shipping: indispensable to the world, by focussing on helping IMO Member States to develop and implement maritime strategies to invest in a joined-up, interagency approach that addresses the whole range of issues, including the facilitation of maritime transport, and increasing efficiency, navigational safety, protection of the marine environment, and maritime security.

In this way, IMO will be contributing to achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which are a broad response to the challenges facing the world today: increasing world population; climate change; threats to the environment; unsustainable exploitation of natural resources; threats to food security; societal threats posed by organized criminals and violent extremists; and instability leading to mixed migration.

Ultimately, more efficient shipping, working in partnership with a port sector supported by governments, will be a major driver towards global stability and sustainable development for the good of all people.

Parallel Event 2017

The World Maritime Day Parallel Event will be held in Panama on 1-3 October. See website: http://worldmaritimedaypanama.com/

IMO video for World Maritime Day 2017 [4:00]

Edited by Paul Ridgway
London

 

PHASE 2 OF MOMBASA CONTAINER TERMINAL TO BEGIN IN JANUARY

Mombasa's second container terminal, appearing in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news
Mombasa’s second container terminal

Phase 1 of the Mombasa Port Second Container Terminal will commence in January, following the securing of a KSh35 bullion loan from Japan.

According to Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) managing director, Catherine Mturi-Wairi, the tender process for the contract to build Phase 2 will be issued shortly. She said that construction has to…[restrict] commence by January 2018.

Phase 2 of the second Mombasa Container Terminal will result in an additional 450,000 TEU capacity being added to the 550,000 TEU capacity of Phase 1, which was completed in September 2016.

Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia announced recently that the Kenya government is seeking funds to build a modern and larger oil terminal to replace the Kipevu Oil Terminal also in Mombasa.

In other transport news, Macharia said that an alternative transport route from Mombasa to Burundi through Holili, Singida-Kobero border and finally Bujumbura was nearing completion. “The project is in its final phase,” Macharia said. “The route will cover about 1,545km, which reduces the distance from Mombasa to Bujumbura through the Northern Corridor by 358km,” he told The Standard.

Another project that has commenced construction is the Mariakani-Mombasa dual carriageway at a cost of KSh350 billion, which is designed to ease traffic between the port and the hinterland. source – The Standard[/restrict]

 

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PORT NEWS: PORT ELIZABETH VISIT, MAPUTO-CATEMBE BRIDGE, KANDLA PORT RENAMED

Ricky Bhikraj (TNPA's Research Executive & Operation Phakisa Programme Director), Rajesh Dana (PE Port Manager) and Tandi Lebakeng (Ngqura Port Manager) with Buti Manamela (far right). In the background is one of nine new 70-ton bollard pull tugboats built for TNPA by Southern African Shipyards in Durban, of which the Port of PE has two – MVEZO and QUNU, appearing in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news
Ricky Bhikraj (TNPA’s Research Executive & Operation Phakisa Programme Director), Rajesh Dana (PE Port Manager) and Tandi Lebakeng (Ngqura Port Manager) with Buti Manamela (far right). In the background is one of nine new 70-ton bollard pull tugboats built for TNPA by Southern African Shipyards in Durban, of which the Port of PE has two – MVEZO and QUNU

Port Elizabeth

South Africa deputy minister in the Presidency responsible for Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation, Buti Manamela, visited the port at Port Elizabeth on Tuesday (26 September) to provide an update on various Operation Phakisa developments in the port.

Port Manager Rajesh Dana said the new projects..[restrict] – aquaculture, maritime training, boat building and repairs, commercial and “people’s port” operations including the launch of a waterfront in 2019 – highlighted the region’s readiness for Operation Phakisa, a government programme which aims to unlock the economic potential of the Oceans Economy.

Last year the port unveiled the only 90 ton boat hoist in the entire port system which caters for the region’s thriving fishing industry. The port’s slipways are also undergoing refurbishment and TNPA is working towards the establishment of a Marine Engineering hub at the port.

Port of Maputo

What the completed bridge will look like - the final sections arrived by ship yesterday, appearing in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news
What the completed bridge is going to look like – the final deck platform sections arrived by ship yesterday

Some of the final sections for the platform of the suspension bridge over Maputo Bay arrived in the port of Maputo yesterday (27 September). The Maputo-Catembe Bridge, the longest suspension bridge in Africa will link Maputo with the southern side of the bay for the first time.

The 3-kilometre long suspension bridge is being built by the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) at a budgeted cost of US$725 million. The project includes rebuilding the 209-km road from Catembe on the southern side of Maputo Bay with Ponta de Ouro, on the border with South Africa’s KZN province. CRBC will also rehabilitate the road from Bela Vista to Boane.

The new bridge is high enough above Maputo Bay for ships to pass under. Although cited for completion by December this year its completion is likely to be delayed slightly into the new year.

New name for India’s Kandla Port

Port of Kandla, now renamed Deendayal. Picture: Wikipedia Commons, appearing in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news
Port of Kandla, now renamed Deendayal. Picture: Wikipedia Commons

The Indian port of Kandla Port Trust has been renamed Deendayal Port Trust, with effect from Monday, 25 September 2017.

Kandla port is situated on the Gulf of Kutch in Gujarat and is one of India’s 12 major ports. The renaming followed a suggestion by Prime Minister Narendra Modi that it be renamed in honour of the centenary of the birth of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, who founded the predecessor of his political party, Bharatiya Janata Party.

India’s Central Government, in terms of the powers conferred on it under Indian Ports Act, 1908, made the amendment to replace ‘Kandla’ with ‘Deendayal’.[/restrict]

 

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CRUISING: SAGA TAKES UP OPTION FOR SECOND NEW CRUISE SHIP

artistic view of SAGA DISCOVERY's dining room, appearing in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news
artistic view of SAGA DISCOVERY’s dining room

SAGA Cruises is taking up an option for a second new ship to be built at the shipyard of Meyer Werft in Germany.

SAGA’s first newbuilding, to be named SPIRIT OF DISCOVERY, enters service in July 2019, and will now be joined by a sister ship, SPIRIT OF ADVENTURE one year later.

Both ships will each carry less than 1,000 passengers, will have balconies for all cabins and will feature the intimacy and personal touches that Saga is noted for.

“Our first new ship, Spirit of Discovery, will be in service in June 2019 and with pre-sales being very strong, this confidence in demand has supported our decision to expand the new build fleet and purchase our second new ship, to be delivered in August 2020,” Lance Batchelor, Saga plc chief executive officer said this week.

Artist's impression of Spirit of Discovery, appearing in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news
Artist’s impression of Spirit of Discovery

“Our loyal customers have played a key role in the design process for our first new build ship ‘Spirit of Discovery’,” said Robin Shaw, chief executive, Saga Cruises.

“To date almost 7,000 passengers, who had pre-registered to sail on her have already gone on to book one of our new itineraries. This is a phenomenal conversion of over 80%.Thanks to this strong demand, the desire of Saga members to keep doing the things they love and the forecast growth in the cruise industry, I am absolutely delighted that we are today confirming that we have now agreed to build a second new ship, ‘Spirit of Adventure’ for delivery in Summer 2020. This is an incredibly exciting time for Saga cruises and I am immensely proud of my team, both onboard and ashore, and the customers that will continue to help shape the look and feel of our future fleet,” Shaw said.

The 58,250-gt Saga Adventure will be 236 metres long and 31.2 metres wide.

 

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CHINESE AMBASSADOR IMPRESSED WITH COEGA SEZ

The Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China (Songtian Lin, centre) and his delegation visits the Port of Ngqura. With them are their hosts – personnel of the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) and the Coega Development Corporation (CDC), appearing in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news
The Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China (Songtian Lin, centre) and his delegation visits the Port of Ngqura. With them are their hosts – personnel of the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) and the Coega Development Corporation (CDC)

A visit to the Port of Ngqura and the Coega Special Economic Zone (SEZ) on 18 September by China’s Ambassador to South Africa, Songtian Lin, left him and his delegation of seven people suitably impressed.

The visit formed part of a tour where the delegation familiarised themselves with…[restrict] the facilities and capacity of various investors in the SEZ.

The delegation included the CEO and Plant Manager of FAW Vehicle Manufacturers SA, which has invested in the region and will be manufacturing FAW trucks at the Coega CDC.

Ambassador Lin hailed the Coega SEZ as “by far the most successful SEZ on the African continent.” He highlighted it as a good case study for Africa and the world on how to develop and operate an SEZ.

This follows the Coega Development Corporation’s (CDC) mid-year investment performance report revealing that it has signed eight new investors, exceeding its mid-year performance target by 167%.[/restrict]

 

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PRESS RELEASES

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.

UNIQUE GROUP EXPANDS INTO NIGERIA AND KENYA WITH KONGSBERG MARITIME

Kongsberg’s GeoAcoustics Geoswath 4 offers efficient simultaneous swath bathymetry and side scan seabed mapping, appearing in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news
Kongsberg’s GeoAcoustics Geoswath 4 offers efficient simultaneous swath bathymetry and side scan seabed mapping

Unique Group (UG), one of the world’s most prominent integrated subsea and offshore solution providers, has executed a dealer agreement with Norwegian-based Kongsberg Maritime (KM) AS. As part of the agreement, Unique Group’s Cape Town office will offer KM’s underwater mapping and navigation solutions to customers in Nigeria and Kenya.

The underwater navigation products include the HiPAP® range of underwater positioning systems and the cNODE® underwater positioning transponders. The ® also applies to the EM series.

Konrad Mech, Director Subsea Channel Management at Kongsberg Maritime AS commented, “We’re pleased to appoint Unique Group’s South Africa office as a market representative of our underwater mapping and navigation solutions in Nigeria and Kenya. The move is strategic for Kongsberg in expanding its international reach, especially in the African sub-continent. We have had an association with Unique Group for the Middle East region that spans over two decades. Our synergic interest to establish market presence in Africa will help strengthen the partnership over the years ahead. We value their seamless sales support and service structure and are confident that their team can provide first hand assistance to customers using our product lines.”

“The new partnership will allow Unique Group’s Survey Equipment division to add a wide range of underwater mapping and navigation products to its extensive line of superior quality equipment,” said Sharad Kumar, Director of Business Development at Unique Group.

“The move is strategic for Unique Group’s plans for the African sub-continent that includes extending the capabilities to the East through Kenya and West through Nigeria, apart from the existing services offered from our base in South Africa. This is in line with the global perspective on African development. UG also has a DP training centre in Nigeria with KM that is approved by the Nautical Institute.

“We’re hopeful that our successful business relationship developed over these years will further strengthen with this partnership for a new region and we look forward to extending this to a few more countries in the region over the next couple of years,” he further added.

Headquartered in Norway, Kongsberg Maritime AS has been delivering systems for dynamic positioning and navigation, marine automation, handling systems, safety management, cargo handling, subsea survey and construction, among many others. – Press Release

 

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EXPECTED SHIP ARRIVALS and SHIPS IN PORT


Port Louis – Indian Ocean gateway port

Ports & Ships publishes regularly updated SHIP MOVEMENT reports including ETAs for ports extending from West Africa to South Africa to East Africa and including Port Louis in Mauritius.

In the case of South Africa’s container ports of Durban, Ngqura, Ports Elizabeth and Cape Town links to container Stack Dates are also available.

You can access this information, including the list of ports covered, by going HERE remember to use your BACKSPACE to return to this page.

 

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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.

 

PICS OF THE DAY : ASTORIA BRIDGE

Astoria Bridge in Cape Town, picture by Ian Shiffman, appearing in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news

'K' Line's Astoria Bridge arriving in Cape Town, Sept 2017. Pictures Ian Shiffman, appearing in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news
Astoria Bridge. Pictures: Ian Shiffman

‘K’ Line’s container ship ASTORIA BRIDGE (51,314-dwt) is seen here arriving in Cape Town harbour on 18 September to work her cargo at the container terminal. The 262-metre long, 32.2m wide container ship was built in 2009 at the Hyundai Heavy Industries Ltd Co in South Korea as their hull number 1976. She is owned by Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha and operated by ‘K’ Line (who are one and the same). Sometime next year the ship and of course ‘K’ Line will be consolidating into a single service with fellow Japanese container ship operators, NYK Line and MOL. Astoria Bridge has a capacity of 4,300 TEU, which is low in comparison to her size and although a relatively young ship, we could see her becoming one of the casualties of the new union. These pictures are by Ian Shiffman

 

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

“He who has seen present things has seen all, both everything which has taken place from all eternity and everything which will be for time without end; for all things are of one kin and of one form.”
– Marcus Aurelius

 

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