TODAY’S BULLETIN OF MARITIME NEWS
Click on headline to go direct to story : use the BACK key to return
- First View : LIBRA
- DP World boss, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem visits West Africa
- Port Sudan workers repeat their rejection of privatisation
- Angola’s growth depends on its oil – EIU
- Record crop approaches for South African citrus
- Start to be made in 2018 on Senegal’s Port du Futur
- Tanzania prepares to launch phase two of standard gauge railway
- PRESS RELEASE: Conference to explore maritime training for “Generation Alpha”
- Expected Ship Arrivals and Ships in Port
- Pics of the Day : SALDANHA BAY
SEND NEWS REPORTS AND PRESS RELEASES TO
info@africaports.co.za
News continues below
The Lithuanian-flag refrigerated ship LIBRA (5,065-dwt) at Cape Town earlier in September, where she is seen inbound to load frozen fish. Having been on the African coast for some time, we wonder if that wasn’t to discharge frozen fish for onward consignment? Libra was arriving from Mozambique waters, having called at Maputo earlier in the month. The 121-metre long, 17m wide reefer was built in 1991 and is homeported at Klaipeda. This picture is by Ian Shiffman
News continues below
DP WORLD BOSS, SULTAN AHMED BIN SULAYEM VISITS WEST AFRICA
DP World Group Chairman and CEO, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, has been visiting West African countries to seek new areas for cooperation and development.
Among the countries visited are Senegal, Mali and Ghana.
His most recent visit was to Ghana where he held discussions with the President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo which centred on cooperation in customs technology, port operations, freezone development, rail transport and inland container depots as ways to develop trade and support businesses aiming to reach international markets.
Mr. Bin Sulayem highlighted Ghana’s recent agreement with Dubai’s Customs World to supply customs clearing services in the country as an example of making processes more efficient, lowering costs for ports and transport providers and enabling more efficient trade flows.
Customs World acquired West Blue Ghana Ltd in September to provide a national single window and risk management system and will invest in new technologies and training in customs digital platforms as they do in other countries worldwide. DP World says that the implementation of the new systems will be based on a robust risk engine that will improve efficiency in the country’s ports and customs operations and increase government’s revenue and reduce the cost of doing business at the ports.
“Integrating ports, customs, and freezones in Ghana will benefit the country enormously, enabling business to trade faster and more efficiently than ever before. Dubai is a model for the world and we can support developing nations such as Ghana in the long term implementation of such strategies as the recent agreement with Customs World demonstrates,” Sultan Bin Sulayem said.
“Our flagship Jebel Ali port in Dubai is a pioneer with its logistics corridor connecting freezone, port and nearby airport with customs operations and digital processes such as the Dubai Trade portal to enable companies to move their goods. Ghana’s ports and customs systems can make it a regional trade transport and logistics hub and a leader on the continent.”
He said that trade and not just aid is one of the key action points African nations have raised and development of infrastructure and transport connectivity will help considerably. “Trade is a gateway to development and regional cooperation through public private partnerships and will benefit all. Africa is in a unique position in that it has the chance to trade with an untapped market – itself. Countries such as Ghana can help make this ambition a reality given its access to the sea and the fact that 90% of trade in Africa is along its coastline.”
A report by DP World on Africa with the Economist Intelligence Unit said that the impact of trade facilitation on trade flows and costs is real with an estimate that on average a 10% increase in a country’s trade facilitation performance can lead to an increase in trade flows and an 8.3% reduction in trade costs.
Earlier, DP World’s chairman and CEO visited Mali and Senegal where similar discussions were held.
In Mali where he met with Mali President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta to discuss a trade and logistics master plan to unlock the resource rich country’s economic potential, Sultan Bin Sulayem said: “Mali has a long history of trade in gold and agricultural products and though landlocked, has the opportunity to maximise use of its 1,800 kilometres of inland waterways such as the Niger River to connect local farmers and businesses to international markets.
“We have the experience of operating in 40 countries in a wide variety of locations including the management of coastal terminals, inland container depots (ICD’s) and moving cargo on rivers. Our experience in the development of infrastructure and multi-modal transport is proving of value to governments in Africa as they seek to develop the trading capacity of their economies.
At the start of his travels in West Africa, Mr Bin Sulayem met with Senegalese President Macky Sall to confirm development of infrastructure projects in the country.
The discussions, attended by Prime Minister Mohammed Dionne and senior government officials, confirmed the plan for Port Du Futur with construction to start before the end of 2018 together with agreement on land allocation for the associated freezone. Meanwhile, DP World will also provide a master plan for redevelopment of the old port of Dakar. Other topics included customs and logistics in the country.
Port de Futur will be a multi-purpose port with an economic zone and logistics zone adjacent to new Blaise Diagne International Airport. It allows for the creation of cargo, free movement of goods to support the country’s economic diversification, boosting non-resource exports. It is expected to be one of the most advanced and well organised free zones in Africa and globally using the latest state-of-the-art equipment and technology.
“African nations are determined to develop their infrastructure to encourage trade and the growth of their economies. The region has major trade potential, especially for landlocked nations seeking gateways to the sea and connectivity between them will be key. The size of the region and their populations reinforces the need for multi-modal transport, logistics and customs capabilities across borders and as our business moves the world across 40 countries we have the know-how to help in that mission. In addition, we are already part of Africa’s future sharing our experience on cargo movement across the continent’s supply chain and have the experience to deliver major projects there,” he said.
Across Africa, DP World has operations in Senegal, Egypt, Mozambique, Djibouti, Algeria and Somaliland where it is developing a multi-purpose port project at Berbera. It also secured a 25-year concession to develop and operate a new logistics centre in Kigali, Rwanda.
* Now see Start to be made in 2018 on Senegal’s Port du Futur below
News continues below
PORT SUDAN WORKERS REPEAT THEIR REJECTION OF PRIVATISATION
Port workers in the Red Sea’s Port Sudan, which handles 90% of Sudan’s imports and exports by sea, are continuing with their rejection of what they say is an ongoing privatisation of Port Sudan’s southern port.
In an interview with Radio Dabanga, a spokesman for the Port Workers’ Union criticised the Sudanese government for pushing ahead with what he said were plans to privatise the port.
Abdallah Musa, a spokesman for the union said that despite the…[restrict] involvement of a concessionaire (ICTSI), little improvement has occurred.
Speaking to the radio station last week he said, “The government, which has sold the country’s resources and manipulated them, is now moving towards selling or renting ports to foreign companies in secret deals whose details, terms and the form in which it was agreed upon is not known.”
He added that the port is a vital part of Sudan’s infrastructure that should not be handed over to foreign interests that can easily manipulate the situation.
In 2013 the Sudan Port Corporation (SPC) entered into a terminal management contract with Philippines-based port operator International Container Terminal Service Inc (ICTSI) regarding the management and operation of the South Quays Container Terminal, which was aimed at enhancing the level of transhipment and transit trade with neighbouring countries.
SPC also signed contracts for the acquisition of two ship-to-shore gantry cranes and four reach stackers as well as a contract with China’s ZPMC to rehabilitate an existing STS crane and three RTG cranes.
In 2011 a new container terminal was completed which boosted the port’s container handling capacity by an additional 700,000 TEU annually, bringing the total terminal capacity to 1.2 million TEU. In spite of this, in 2015 the terminal handled just 482,178 TEU, well below its new capacity.
The old container terminal had a depth alongside of 12.6 metres and a length of just 420 metres. For the new container terminal this has been improved to a depth alongside of 16 metres and a quay length of 720 metres. The terminal now has six berths for container ships and one berth (15) for the handling of grain. source: SPC and Radio Dabanga[/restrict]
News continues below
ANGOLA’S GROWTH DEPENDS ON ITS OIL – EIU
Angola will have to remain dependent on its oil for any economic growth over the foreseeable future, says the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) in its recent report on the African country.
This is on account of Angola’s weak economic diversification. The EIU forecasts the growth rate for Angola to…[restrict] fluctuate between 2.7% in 2017, 2.4% in 2018, the same again in 2019, 2.5% in 2020 and 2.7% in 2021, for an average growth rate of 2.5% over the five year period.
As a consequence of the low oil prices and the country still adjusting to this reality, the anticipated growth rate will be a result of increased public spending and private consumption, the EIU says.
The implementation of investments outside the oil and gas sector will continue to be hampered by the absence of reforms, it reports, referring to the high level of bureaucracy and the “apparent increase in arrears to companies providing services to the State.”
However, the economic growth could be higher if the new President of the Republic approves structural reforms as suggested by International Monetary Fund experts.
“This scenario should, however, be unlikely, given that it would tend to cause disenchantment among the ruling elite and pose a long-term threat to social stability,” the report said. source: macauhub[/restrict]
News continues below
RECORD CROP APPROACHES FOR SOUTH AFRICAN CITRUS
With a few weeks still to go South Africa’s export volumes of citrus fruit are going to be the highest ever, surpassing 2015’s 118.5 million cartons.
Already the volume is closing in on 120 million 15kg cartons (1.8 million tons), says Justin Chadwick, CEO of the Citrus Growers Association (CGA).
Writing in his weekly newsletter, Chadwick says the final packed figure will not be far off the seasons opening estimate of 122.7 m cartons, although the mix favours soft citrus, lemons and Valencia at the expense of navels.
“With a bigger volume of grapefruit exported in 2017 than the previous year – all regions experienced growth in terms of total volumes. However, the volumes were spread slightly differently.”
Chadwick reported that the biggest importer was…[restrict] the EU (which still includes the UK) which received 5.5 m cartons (2016 5.2 million), this represented a market share of 41% (2016 45%).
“Asia (which includes Japan, South Korea, Bangladesh, India, Thailand and Indonesia amongst 16 countries classified into this region) received 3.1 m cartons (2016 2.4m) and increased market share from 20% to 23%. South East Asia (China, Malaysia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Vietnam) increased from 1.6m to 1.8 m; but market share dropped from 15% to 14%.
“Russia increased from 0.9 m to 1.1 m cartons – going from 7% to 8% market share. North America increased from 500,000 to 600,000 cartons, while Middle East increased from 330,000 to 350,000 cartons.”[/restrict]
News continues below
START TO BE MADE IN 2018 ON SENEGAL’S PORT DU FUTUR
Construction of Senegal’s Port du Futur is to get underway next year in 2018.
The development of Port du Futur is to be undertaken by DP World, whose officials confirmed the start-up details last week during the visit by the DP World Group Chairman and CEO, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem.
During the visit and meeting with Senegal’s President Macky Sall and…[restrict] Prime Minister Mohammed Dionne, the agreement on land allocation for Port Du Futur was finalised.
DP World has confirmed that once construction is completed, the integrated Port Du Futur will feature an economic zone and logistics zone adjacent to new Blaise Diagne international airport. The port will also provide a seamless movement of cargo to neighbouring landlocked countries in the African continent.
In addition, DP World also agreed to provide a master plan for the redevelopment of the old port of Dakar into a major logistics hub and gateway.
Earlier this year DP World published a study on the economic impact of its role as operator of the Dakar Container Terminal, in which it stated that 31,000 Senegalese nationals have benefited from the port operator’s activities. It also said that DP World’s activities have resulted in a 63 percent increase in Dakar’s imports and exports between 2010 and 2015, boosted by the company’s infrastructure investments.[/restrict]
News continues below
TANZANIA PREPARES TO LAUNCH PHASE TWO OF STANDRAD GAUGE RAILWAY
Tanzania is preparing to launch phase two of its ambitious standard gauge railway (SGR) that will connect the port city of Dar es Salaam with Mwanza and Lake Victoria and ultimately with Rwanda and Uganda in the northwest. Tanzanian officials also talk of the line extending to the DRC border.
Phase two, a distance of 336 kilometres from Morogoro will see the wider gauge railway line reaching the capital city of Dodoma. Construction is due to commence in November 2017.
Phase one of the project was launched in April this year, extending between…[restrict] Dar es Salaam and Morogoro. Despite this progress the country has yet to secure the US$1.2 billion needed to pay for it.
Tanzania’s President John Magafuli approached the World Bank in an effort to raise the money, and has also appealed to South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma to facilitate a loan from the BRICS New Development Bank. By moving ahead with phase two it would appear that President Magafuli is confident of raising the funds.
Phase one is being undertaken by a consortium consisting of Turkey’s Yapi Merkez Insaat Ve Sanayi and Portugal’s Mota-Engil, Engenharie and Construção Africa SA.
The section of line from Dar es Salaam to Mwanza on the southern shores of Lake Victoria is 1,057 kilometres and follows closely the route used by the German and British-built metre gauge railway already in existence.
On completion of the line the port of Dar es Salaam will have three gauges of railway serving the port – the original metre gauge between Lake Victoria and the port, the new 1435mm SGR now under construction, and the 1067mm ‘Cape’ gauge railway operated by TAZARA between the port and Zambia, where it links with other Cape gauge railways running south into South Africa and north to the DRC (and even from there, once the DRC section is rehabilitated, with Lobito in Angola on the Atlantic coast).
Tanzania’s standard gauge railway is a response to Kenya’s SGR that has been completed between Mombasa and Nairobi and is now moving forward towards the Uganda border, where it will be met by a similar gauge railway from the Ugandan capital of Kampala. The Kenya railway will also go via the Lake Victoria port of Kisumu. Kenya and Uganda’s ambitions see the SGR extending to the DRC and Rwanda borders, and north into South Sudan.[/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.
Conference to explore maritime training for “Generation Alpha”
The next generation of mariners has to be as fluent in using technology as they are at reading the wind, weather and waves, says Professor Malek Pourzanjani, chief executive officer of the South African International Maritime Institute (SAIMI).
“Technology is all-pervasive, impacting on all aspects of economic and human activity. There is a need to ensure that South African and African maritime education and training meets the needs of the global maritime industry that has already embraced digitalisation.
“Training for seafarers, and other sectors of the maritime economy, must meet and go beyond current standards so that qualified South Africans can compete on the international maritime job market,” he says.
All sectors of the maritime industry are facing common challenges with training “Generation Alpha,” who will make far greater use of technology than any generation before it.
Training institutions have to offer simulator-based competency assessments, combined with “blended learning,” which is a combination of on-line and classroom courses.
Marine manufacturing companies will need to build or retrofit craft which take full advantage of digitisation, which will connect them to the Internet of Things (IoT), remote monitoring and even autonomous movement.
For this a new generation of tech-savvy seafarers, naval architects, designers, boat-builders and artisans will be needed.
Regulators are having to adapt to the changes as well, in order to make it possible for shipping lines and fishing fleets to optimise the use of digital technology.
“Then there is the pressing need for mariners to be trained for the prevention of cyber-attacks,” says Pourzanjani.
“But, perhaps the biggest challenge of all is to attract young people to the industry,” he adds.
The challenges and solutions will be discussed at the first Maritime Education & Training (MET) conference, which is being hosted by SAIMI from 14 to 17 November 2017 in Cape Town.
“The aim of the conference is to find maritime education and training solutions for South Africa that are relevant to local conditions and based on international best practice in a global industry,” he says.
For further information please contact
SAIMI: Samantha Venter: 082 4515292
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.
Logging ships are becoming quite common in Durban and probably the other South African ports as well, such is the insatiable demand for hardwood timbers. In Durban many call for bunkers, fully loaded with the timber logs obtained in various parts of Africa or South America – in this instance, the bulker SALDANHA BAY (35,947-dwt) seen here was arriving from Uruguay where she had loaded her cargo with a destination in Asia. The Panamanian flagged ship was built in 2015 and is owned and managed by Japanese interests. Her operator is Pacific Basin Shipping, one of the world’s leading owners and operators of modern Handsysize and Supramax size dry bulk carriers. The fleet numbers over 200 such ships of which Saldanha Bay is one – several others including Durban Bay and Eastern Cape carry South African names. These pictures are by Keith Betts
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
“If we can acquire an attitude of self-belief, then we will surely determine our future actions and our future life opportunities.”
― Stephen Richards
–
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 |
