TODAY’S BULLETIN OF MARITIME NEWS
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- First View : STOLT SNELAND
- TNPA appoints new port managers at East London & Mossel Bay
- Four African nations elected to 40-member IMO Council
- Damen Shipyards Cape Town hosts one-day Dredging Seminar and Demo
- US$ 2.7 billion contracts signed for Nacala Corridor
- Ports Regulator grants TNPA average of 2.5% increase in tariffs
- NSRI 17-hour mission to rescue vessel 40 nautical miles off the coast
- RAF military advisory training team in Nigeria
- Expected Ship Arrivals and Ships in Port
- Cruise News and Naval Activities
- Pics of the Day : SEASTAR ENDEAVOUR
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This chemical and oil products tanker called at Durban in mid November and is seen here arriving in the entrance channel. STOLT SNELAND (IMO 9352212) has been a regular caller at Durban over the past years along with a number of other Stolt tankers. The Dutch company operates a fleet of more than 160 liquid bulk tanker. Stolt Sneland (44,080-dwt) was built in 2008 at the Nikolaev Shipyard Okean in Nikolayev in the Ukraine and is registered in George Town in the Cayman Islands. Stolt-Nielsen, to give the owners their fuller name, was founded in 1959 by the founder Jacob Stolt-Nielsen and manages its corporate headquarters and parcel and terminal business in Rotterdam, its tanker container business in Houston, Texas and operates an aquaculture business from Spain. This picture is by Trevor Jones
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TNPA APPOINTS NEW PORT MANAGERS AT EAST LONDOND & MOSSEL BAY
Two vacancies as port managers at East London and Mossel Bay have been filled.
On Friday Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) Chief Executive Shulami Qalinge announced the appointments of Shadrack Tshikalange as Port Manager at the Port of Mossel Bay and Sharon Sijako as Port Manager in East London. Both are effective from 1 December 2017.
Both appointees have fulfilled the roles in an acting capacity since April 2017. These vacancies came as a result of the resignation of the Cape Town and Saldanha Port Managers earlier in the year, resulting in transfers of the then port managers of East London and Mossel Bay.
Tshikalange and Sijako most recently served at their respective ports as Senior Operations Managers for three and a half years.
“We are delighted to have finalised the recruitment and selection processes leading up to these appointments, as this will better enable us to deliver on our strategic objectives and continue to pursue improvements in safety and operational efficiencies at these ports,” said Qalinge.
“I would also like to thank Captain Vania Cloete in Mossel Bay and Mr Alvin Singama in East London, who have both shared the Acting Port Manager responsibilities with our successful appointees in their respective ports this year. The decision was not made any easier due to the high calibre of these and other applicants. We are however confident that Shadrack and Sharon will continue to serve our organisation and its clients most ably in their new roles,” she added.
Sijako is the third female Port Manager in East London after Jacqueline Brown, who had a nine-year tenure at the helm of South Africa’s only river port, and before that of Nosipho Siwisa-Damasane who was appointed in 1998.
Sijako’s career with Transnet began 21 years ago with short tenures at the Ports of Richards Bay and Port Elizabeth. In 1998 she joined the Port of East London, where she has developed an understanding of the port system through operations roles at both TNPA and sister division, Transnet Port Terminals. She has more than a decade of senior operations experience spanning the port’s automotive, container and grain terminals.
Her qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts degree and an honours degree in administration from the University of the Western Cape, and she has completed a number of training courses to improve her knowledge and skills. A proud East Londoner, Sijako matriculated from Mzomhle Senior Secondary School in Mdantsane.
Originally from landlocked Limpopo, Tshikalange’s foray into the maritime industry began in 2014 when he was appointed as Senior Operations Manager at the Port of Mossel Bay. His responsibilities included ensuring efficient port operations, compliance management and that operational standards were met and exceeded. Stakeholder coordination and customer satisfaction were key facets of his role and will continue to be of importance in his new position as Port Manager.
Prior to joining Transnet his career experience lay predominantly in local government and development. He was Municipal Manager at Makhado Local Municipality in Limpopo for two years, and Director of Corporate Service at Bohlabela District Municipality for three years prior to the municipality’s disbandment. He also served tenures at the Local Government Sector Training Authority, Independent Development Trust and the then Northern Transvaal Regional Development Forum.
Tshikalange holds a B Juris degree from the University of the North, as well as an array of certifications in fields as diverse as Port Management, Project Management, Development Planning and Labour Relations. He is currently pursuing a Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership Development from the University of Stellenbosch. He matriculated from St Paul’s High School in Luckau Village, Groblersdal, Limpopo.
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FOUR AFRICAN NATIONS ELECTED TO IMO 40-MEMBER COUNCIL
The IMO Assembly has concluded a week-long gathering in London by electing a new 40-member Council, its executive body responsible for supervising the work of the Organization. The Council performs all the functions of the Assembly, except that of making recommendations to Governments on maritime safety and pollution prevention.
The electoral campaign was tougher than usual as 46 countries presented their candidature. In category A, there was no contested election, but unusually in Category B Australia and the United Arab Emirates…[restrict] challenged the group making it 12 candidates for 10 seats. Both countries succeeded in getting a seat on the Council, at the expense of Argentina and Bangladesh. In category C, the challengers Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia did not gain seats in the Council.
African countries represented in this Cateory are once again Egypt, South Africa, Kenya and Liberia.
The Members for the 2018-2019 biennium are:
Category A (10 States with the largest interest in providing international shipping services):
China, Greece, Italy, Japan, Norway, Panama, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, United Kingdom, United States.
Category B (10 States with the largest interest in international seaborne trade):
Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, United Arab Emirates.
Category C (20 States not elected above, which have special interests in maritime transport or navigation and whose election to the Council will ensure the representation of all major geographic areas of the world):
Bahamas, Belgium, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Liberia, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey.
The newly elected Council will meet, following the conclusion of the 30th Assembly, for its 119th session (on 7 December) and will elect its Chair and Vice-Chair for the next biennium.
The IMO has 172 member states.[/restrict]
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DAMEN SHIPYARDS CAPE TOWN HOSTS ONE-DAY DREDGING SEMINAR & DEMO
Damen Shipyards Cape Town (DSCT) recently welcomed over 50 invitees from across the Southern African dredging sector to its shipyard in the Port of Cape Town for a one-day seminar on dredging.
The guest list included representatives from a wide range of companies with an interest in dredging, including those that supply dredging services, those that employ dredging services, and various government agencies.
The Damen Shipyards Group is a leader in the design and build of both dredging vessels and the equipment they use to extract and relocate sediment. Damen dredgers can be found in operation all over the world and the group has particular expertise is the design of modular dredgers that can be delivered in a series of containers and transported by road to remote inland locations, where they can then be assembled and put to work.
The programme included a presentation, lunch and a demonstration of a DOP dredge pump. There were…[restrict] also Q&A sessions at various intervals to ensure that any queries could be answered.
The opening address was delivered by Sefale Montsi, a Non-Executive Director and board member of DSCT, and Benny Bhali, Sales and Marketing Executive at DSCT. Andrew Mukandila from the Department of Trade and Industry, Ms Bonnie Horbach, Consul General, Kingdom of the Netherlands, and Riyaadh Kara from the Department of Public Works, each spoke to the assembled delegates.
Also present at the event was a delegation from the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA). The agency is responsible for the implementation of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, which involves the construction of a number of dams and reservoirs, and its representatives welcomed the opportunity to meet with participants in the dredging industry and discuss its future requirements.
These were then followed by a series of presentations covering techniques, technology and current issues involving maintenance dredging (Arthro Petersen, TNPA Dredging) and capital dredging (Selvan Pillay, TNPA Dredging), dredging equipment (Olivier Marcus, Damen Dredging Equipment) and dredging services (Tom Steenman, Damen Services).
After lunch, the guests had the opportunity to see a Damen DOP 150 Submersible Dredge Pump in action from a mounting on the quay wall. This was made possible by the cooperation of James Tucker and his team from T&T Marine, Southern Africa’s leading dredging and marine contractor.
“It was a great success,” commented Sefale Montsi, “and we were delighted by the large number of guests who accepted our invitations. The South African Government through the Department of Trade and Industry has been very supportive of the event, sharing our goal of developing a sustainable dredging industry in the region by raising awareness of the value that it can deliver to our maritime sector and promoting dialogue among all the relevant stakeholders. Our event gave invitees the opportunity to listen to expert guest speakers discussing the future of the dredging industry in the region.
“We also received much positive feedback from our guests, who appreciated this chance to expand their knowledge of the current status of dredging in Southern Africa, and of the challenges and opportunities that are available to them. It also allowed us at DSCT to demonstrate how we can assist and support this growing industry.”
Andrew Mukandila, Deputy Director of Industrial Policy at the Department of Trade & Industry, added: “The seminar on the dredging industry in Southern Africa was an eye opener on the potential that the industry has in terms of growth, job creation and skills development mainly for young people. We are of the view that, if given an opportunity on the local market, the industry will greatly develop, attract investments in equipment manufacturing, and build market confidence and competitiveness in the Sub-Saharan Africa region.”
Due to the positive response to the seminar from the industry, DSCT is now considering making the seminar an annual event.
About Damen Shipyards Cape Town
Damen Shipyards Cape Town builds ships in Africa for Africa. To date, the yard has constructed & delivered 40 vessels to the African continent from its base in Cape Town, including offshore patrol vessels, dredgers, tugs, naval craft and platform supply vessels, some of which have been built for stock in order to ensure fast delivery. The DSCT Services & Repairs department has provided training, delivery, maintenance & repairs assistance to countries across the globe and especially to African countries seeking to source high quality services from South Africa.
DSCT has a well-established Apprenticeship Training Centre which is accredited by MerSETA and ChietaSETA. Apprentices selected for the Apprenticeship Training Centre program have the opportunity to obtain the necessary skills in order to achieve artisan status in Welding, Boiler Making, Pipe Fitting or Electrical and they are provided with a job opportunity at the same time. The first, second and third year apprentices are productive on the shop floor under the mentorship of qualified artisans until they pass their Trade Test. Once qualified, all apprentices have the opportunity to be absorbed into the business as artisans. To date, DSCT has trained 63 Apprentices of which 19 are female. DSCT’s Apprenticeship Training Centre is the true reflection of the yard’s commitment to the South African Governments economic initiative, known as Operation Phakisa, which aims to reach the potential of the South African Maritime Sector, including shipbuilding, and to accelerate economic growth and job creation.[/restrict]
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US$ 2.7 BILLION CONTRACTS SIGNED FOR NACALA CORRIDOR
Contracts worth US$ 2.7 billion (R37 billion) have been signed between companies funding the development of the Nacala deepwater port and Nacala Rail Corridor and Mozambique government and companies involved with the Corridor.
The contracts were signed in Maputo last Thursday (30 November).
In a report in the Mozambique publication Notícias quoting the Portuguese agency Lusa, the Nacala Corridor is said to be set for more than 30 years of useful operation by…[restrict] the Brazilian mining company’s coal mining operations in Moatize, Tete province, according to Vale Mozambique’s Executive Business Support Officer, Alexandre Pereira.
In addition to providing a viable and efficient means of transporting the coal to a deepwater port at Nacala, the rail corridor has become a reality for previously isolated areas of Mozambique and Malawi, both in regards to goods and passengers.
Mozambique Minister of Transport and Communications Carlos Mesquita said he expected the rail line to transport four million tonnes of cargo per year – that’s in addition to the expected 18 million tonnes of coal.
The minister pointed to the value of the investment and the partners involved as a sign that Mozambique remained a good destination for international investment, and somewhere which enjoyed peace and good governance.
The two were speaking at a ceremony attended by Ministers Letícia Klemens (Natural Resources and Energy), Adriano Maleiane (Economy and Finance) and Minister Mesquita at which the contracts were signed.
The project is presented by Vale as an example of the internationalisation of Brazilian companies in Africa, as well as cooperation between Brazil and Japan, which “occurs nowhere else in such an intense and promising way,” Pereira said.
The Nacala corridor, in operation since 2016, is a US$4.5 billion investment that brings together Brazilian multinational Vale, the Japanese conglomerate Mitsui and the Mozambican public railroad company CFM.
The project includes a deep-water port in Nacala, northern Mozambique, linked to an almost 900-kilometre rail line which transports coal for export.
In the long-term financing agreement formalised on Thursday, the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) is providing about US$1 billion, with a similar amount raised by a consortium of Japanese banks in a loan guaranteed by Nippon Export and Investment Insurance.
The South African Export Credit Agency similarly guarantees a US$400 million loan from ABSA, Investec, Rand Merchant and Standard Bank of South Africa, while the African Development Bank has a US$300 million share.
Repayment is expected over 14 years according to a tariff related to the coal and general cargo transportation services provided by the tariff corridor introduced in April after the conclusion of the capital transaction between Vale and Mitsui and subsequent reconsolidation of the corridor.
The funds received “will mainly be paid to Vale to cover loans made by shareholders during the construction of the corridor, but will also be used to support the acceleration of the venture,” the company said in a statement. Source: Lusa & Notícias[/restrict]
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PORTS REGULATOR GRANTS TNPA AVERAGE OF 2.5% INCREASE IN TARIFFS
South Africa’s Ports Regulator has turned down a request by Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) for an average of 8.45% increase in tariffs for the period 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2019.
Instead it has agreed to allow an average increase of 2.5% in tariffs for TNPA’s next financial year.
This is the first tariff application in terms of the second multi-year Tariff methodology (MYM2) published in March 2017.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ports Regulator, Mahesh Fakir, said whilst handing over the Ports Regulator’s Decision formally to TNPA’s Chief Executive, Ms Shulami Qalinge in Durban on Friday (1 December) that all tariffs for 2018/19 are to increase as follows:[restrict]
- marine services and related tariffs (Sections 1-8 of the Tariff Book, excluding Section 7 that deals with cargo dues) are to increase by 8.5%
- coal export cargo dues are to increase by 8.5%
- container cargo dues are to increase by 0%
- RoRo tariffs are to increase by 0%
- all other cargo dues are to increase by 5.4%; and
- All break-bulk tariffs are capped at R100/ton
Fakir added that in line with the previous years’ decision, all marine tariffs (Sections 1-8 of the Tariff Book, excluding Section 6 and 7 that deal with ship repair and cargo dues respectively) for existing commercial South African flagged cargo vessels as well as those registered in South Africa in 2016/17 will receive a 30% discount applicable year on year up to 31 March 2019.
Those registered in South Africa in 2017/18 will receive a 20% discount up to 31 March 2019 and similarly those registered in 2018/19 will receive a 10% discount up to 31 March 2019. The discount will thereafter be reviewed.
The above reductions only apply to vessels registered as part of chapter 4, part 1 of the Ships Registration Act (58 of 1998) but excludes the following vessels:
1] All “small” vessels as defined in the Merchant Shipping Act
2] All “fishing” vessels as defined in the Merchant Shipping Act
3] All non-cargo working vessels
He said that in conducting its assessment, the Ports Regulator took a view on a number of cargo volume and market-related factors, including the inflation outlook and the cost of debt, the operational and cash-flow requirements of the National Ports Authority, as well as the implementation of the published Tariff Strategy aiming to rebalance the tariff structure to closer reflect the underlying cost and benefit to specific users of port infrastructure.
“The Ports Regulator is therefore confident that the Record of Decision reflects a balanced and sustainable average negative real tariff change that will result in a 6.3% year-on-year increase in allowed revenue not only ensuring a “lower-than-inflation” or real decrease in most tariffs (except for coal and marine services that have both seen significant gains from the weaker South African Rand), but the NPA will be allowed to recover R12.414 billion vs the R12.665 billion applied for (comprising 98% of applied for revenue) ensuring their sustainability and also providing the financial space to ensure that the capital program included in the application totalling R3.053 billion is fully implemented.
“This is very important,” he said, “because, whilst it may be tempting to cut back on capital expenditure in a downturn, it is critical as a facilitator of trade for our port system to be ready for the eventual upswing in economic growth.”
The full report of the Decision can be read by CLICKING HERE[/restrict]
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NSRI 17-HOUR MISSION TO RESCUE VESSEL 40 NAUTICAL MILES OFF THE COAST
It has been another busy weekend for the National Sea Rescue Institute in terms of call-outs across South Africa’s long coastline. One of the longest missions was to go to the rescue of an immobilised vessel some 40 nautical miles south of Cape Point.
According to Darren Zimmerman, NSRI Simonstown station commander, the duty crew at the Simon’s Town NSRI Station 10 were activated at 18h18 on Friday, 1 December, following a request for assistance from the 16 metre vessel Django with 11 crew onboard reporting hydraulic failure to their boat.
Django was then 40 nautical miles South of Cape Point.
“We launched our sea rescue craft Spirit of Safmarine III and NSRI Hout Bay were placed on alert,” Zimmerman said.
“In a 15 to 20 knot South Easterly wind and lumpy seas we arrived at the casualty at around 23h00 and a towline was rigged and we towed them to Simonstown throughout the night, with sea conditions improving as the operation progressed.” Zimmerman said they arrived back in Simon’s Town at midday on Saturday, 2 December.
A relief crew was arranged to take over from the crew who had been out on this operation all night to assist with refueling the rescue boat and preparing equipment for stand-by.
Django has meanwhile been moored while the owners prepared to make arrangements for repairing the boat.
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RAF MILITARY ADVISORY TRAINING TEAM IN NIGERIA
Not since the days of the Cold War have the forces of NATO countries found themselves in direct conflict with a coherent, symmetrical, uniformed aggressor. Furthermore, since the drawdown of operations in Afghanistan and the ground campaign in Iraq, there has been criticism as to what extent UK personnel should be involved in far-flung hostilities. How much should the UK be doing? To what extent should it be doing anything at all?
Under ever-pressing financial and manpower restraints, the UK Armed Forces have found themselves with an unusual role to play on a global stage: that of mentor to developed and developing nations who face a domestic terror threat on their own land. Whether it be…[restrict] Daesh, Al Qaeda in its many forms, or Boko Haram, these organisations flourish under a lack of direct challenge, and from their positions of relative freedom, are allowed to plot and organise their attacks further afield, towards their perceived true enemy – the West.
UK Armed Forces are now involved in training programmes all around the globe, providing guidance and instruction on techniques, tactics, strategy and doctrine.
In Estonia and the Baltic states, where there is a threat of a resurgent Russia attempting a repeat of their advances in the Crimea, UK soldiers are training the national conscripts to resist invasion, while Typhoons of the Royal Air Force, together with aircraft of their NATO allies, provide ever present Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) capability, to deter any aircraft not adhering to international flight protocols from overflying Baltic airspace.
In Iraq, UK forces are helping to train the forces of the Iraqi Government to help bring stability and self-governance to the country. Likewise in Afghanistan the Afghan National Army (ANA) are being trained and qualified by UK personnel on a daily basis.
The UK’s relationship with Nigeria is a close and long-standing one, and the UK Government’s British Military Advisory Training Team (BMATT) initiative has been working with the Nigerian Government to help the country’s armed forces defend against and defeat the threat posed by Boko Haram.
BMATT’s Short Term Training Teams (STTT), involve a small number of UK military personnel deploying to Nigeria on a wide range of training tasks. These have included, training in infantry skills, civil-military affairs, media operations, command and leadership, IED-awareness, and support to Nigerian military training schools and establishments.
More than 1250 Nigerian military personnel have benefited from training to prepare them for counter-insurgency operations in north east Nigeria. Several hundred more have benefitted from UK specialist military courses and exercises as part of a wider Defence relationship since early 2015.
Nigeria is a key partner for the UK in West Africa, and last month, Minister for the Armed Forces, Mark Lancaster, visited some of the UK personnel involved in the BMATT programme saying: “The UK stands united with Nigeria in the international fight against terror. With our world class military expertise, we are helping the Nigerian military develop the skills necessary to tackle the threat of Boko Haram.
“From expert operational guidance and medical mentoring in the North East, to counter explosive device training across the country, the UK is leading the way in its commitment to supporting a safe and stable Nigeria.”
For the past few weeks, members of the Royal Air Force’s 5 Force Protection Wing (FP Wg) have been deployed to Kaduna, instructing their Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Regiment counterparts, currently undergoing training at the Regiment Training Centre (RTC), Kaduna.
The NAF Regiment personnel will have already undergone the five-month Basic Regiment Course for officers and airmen, which provides them with the basic skills and knowledge to enable them meet the demands of emerging security challenges.
The BMATT STTT, all Royal Air Force Regiment and RAF Police personnel from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland, will then handle the airfield defence and force protection aspects of the training lasting six weeks.
Two key aspects of the RAF Regiment specialisations is operating within a Complex Air Ground Environment (CAGE) and Key Leadership Engagement (KLE).
Over almost two decades, the UK Armed Forces have learned the value of engaging with village elders and religious leaders in communities often caught up in conflicts. This trust-building acts as a force multiplier for troops, allowing them to have eyes and ears on the ground, with favourable locals being classed as friendly forces.
Officer Commanding 5 FP Wg, Wing Commander Rees said: “The UK has a deep and longstanding bilateral relationship with Nigeria and the UK Government’s presence is one of the largest in Africa. BMATT works in partnership with the Armed Forces of Nigeria to coordinate a growing programme of training and military support, aimed at helping Nigeria counter the threat from Boko Haram.”[/restrict]
Edited by Paul Ridgway
London
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CRUISE NEWS AND NAVAL ACTIVITIES
QM2 in Cape Town. Picture by Ian Shiffman
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PIC OF THE DAY : SEASTAR ENDEAVOUR
The bulk carrier SEASTAR ENDEAVOUR (IMO 9544748) arrives in the entrance channel to the Port of Durban during November this year. With a length of 186 metres, a width of 28m and a draught of 6m the 36,746-dwt ship is typical of many mid-sized bulkers plying their business on the world’s trade lanes. The bulk carrier was arriving from Dar es Salaam where she had discharged a cargo of fertiliser. Built in 2011 the ship is flagged in Malta,is owned by British interests and is managed by Norbulk Shipping UK of Glasgow, Scotland. This picture is by Keith Betts
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
“Just as there is no loss of basic energy in the universe, so no thought or action is without its effects, present or ultimate, seen or unseen, felt or unfelt.”
– Norman Cousins
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