TODAY’S BULLETIN OF MARITIME NEWS
Click on headline to go direct to story : use the BACK key to return
- First View : MOL PROFICIENCY
- Uproar as Transnet Board fails to attend parliamentary Scopa meeting
- Continuous development of Suez Canal is ordered
- MOL Signs Bauxite Transport Deal from Guinea with Alufer Mining Limited
- Liquid cargo handling to be given a boost in South Africa
- Van Oord’s Maldives project scoops DPC Innovation Award
- Global network of centres of excellence in marine technology launched
- NATO SNMCMG2 in the Aegean
- Chinese shipbuilders spearheading the return to water
- Expected Ship Arrivals and Ships in Port
- Cruise News and Naval Activities
- Pics of the Day : NAUTICA
SEND NEWS REPORTS AND PRESS RELEASES TO
info@africaports.co.za
News continues below
Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) 4494-TEU capacity container ship MOL PROFICIENCY (IMO 9403619) departing from Cape Town earlier this month. The 71,777-dwt, 293-metre long by 40m wide ship was built in 2007 at the Koyo Dockyard, Mihara, Japan. She is owned by Japanese interests and is flagged in the Marshall Islands. This picture is by Ian Shiffman
News continues below
UPROAR AS TRANSNET EXECUTIVES FAIL TO ATTEND PARLIAMENTARY SCOPA MEETING
Transnet executives who failed to appear before the Standing Committee on Public Accounts in parliament yesterday say they were not given insufficient notice that the entire Board was expected to appear before SCOPA.
This was after they decided not to attend and answer a series of queries about contract expansions and deviations signed by Transnet. Some of the contracts are under investigation by the Hawks and involve expansions and deviations from the open bidding process on contracts involving several billion rand.
The no-show left Scopa MPs angry at the latest snub – several other committees have had the same treatment which has resulted in summons being issued to those failing to attend.
In attendance at the committee were representatives of the Hawks who were to update MPs on their investigations into Transnet matters.
The Transnet delegation was to have included the chief executive and full board. An irate Inkatha Freedom Party MP asked how the process could even begin without the presence of the Transnet people. “We can’t dignify this behaviour,” Mkhuleko Hlengwa said.
African National Congress MP Nthabiseng Khunou described the stay-away as undermining Parliament, while Democratic Alliance MP Tim Brauteseth called it an insult to the committee. Another ANC MP, Thapelo Chiloane said the public needs to know what has happened with the contracts.
In a series of leaks and revelations, questions have been raised over reported Transnet kick-back commissions that were added to contracts for locomotives and other services amounting to billions of rands. Many of these allegations have arisen from the so-called Gupta-leaks which allege that kick-backs were arranged on large contracts being issued by Transnet, with most of them favouring one particular group of people.
According to Scopa chairperson Themba Godi a letter was received on Monday from Transnet board chairperson Linda Mabaso asking for a postponement of the meeting until January. Godi said however that the meeting should go ahead as the question of deviations and expansion of contracts was separate from other reports and revelations in the media and wasn’t a new issue. Then on Tuesday evening, after office hours, Mabaso sent an email saying that the Transnet board would not be able to attend.
“Part of the [explanation] was that they were unprepared. The matters were quite substantive and they said they wouldn’t like to come unprepared,” Godi said.
MPs were not impressed at this development. ANC Nyami Booi said it set an unwanted precedent. “They think that Parliament is weak and they can play around. But it is clear we are doing a good job, because they are running away.”
DA MP David Ross pointed out that the matter was not new and dated back to 2014. Their non-attendance should have consequences, he said.
Another person absent was Minister of Public Enterprises Lynne Brown who has been placed on sick leave until 24 December. Minister Brown has already appeared before a different parliamentary committee where she came under strong criticism including accusations of not telling the truth.
Transnet to be summonsed
Scopa chairperson Themba Godi said the committee would issue a formal summons for Transnet to appear at the first week of committee sittings in the new year. “This is a first, for them to decide not to come unilaterally, especially if we are not discussing any new issues. This would be the third time in a row we have discussed these issues.
“They must suffer the indignity of being summonsed.”
Godi added that Treasury would be requested to forward a set of bills to the Transnet board and to the minister, to be paid in their personal capacity.
Transnet responds
In a statement issued later yesterday, the Board of Transnet said it has noted feedback from the Standing Committee On Public Accounts over the Board’s non-attendance of the meeting that morning, 6 December 2017.
“The Board is committed to having proper engagements with SCOPA to discuss the various concerns that were raised by the committee and to pave a way for enhancing Transnet’s business processes. However, the Board is of the view that for that engagement to be meaningful and constructive, it is important for the Board to be properly informed of all issues that were contained in the information that Transnet management had submitted to the committee.
Transnet confirms that it was aware of the SCOPA meeting that was to take place on 6 December 2017. The management of Transnet was prepared for the SCOPA engagement and had submitted a further presentation to SCOPA on Monday 4 December 2017.
“However, during the late afternoon of Monday 4 December 2017, the Chairperson of the Board was informed for the first time that the entire Board was expected to appear before SCOPA.”
The statement pointed out that only the chairperson was present at the previous two SCOPA sessions held on 22nd and 28th November 2017.
“This left the Board members with less than 48 hours to prepare for the engagement with SCOPA…. some board members would not have been able to attend at such short notice.”
In requesting a postponement of the session in order to get an adequate opportunity to engage internally, Transnet said it reiterates its commitment to transparency, accountability and continuous improvement to its control environment.
“To the extent that Transnet’s failure to appear at the SCOPA meeting could be perceived as an act of disrespect toward Parliament, Transnet offers its unreserved apology both to Parliament and the South African Public at large. Transnet’s absence must not be interpreted as defiance of Parliament, or unwillingness to co-operate or to avoid accountability.
News continues below
CONTINUOUS DEVELOPMENT OF THE SUEZ CANAL IS ORDERED
Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El Sisi has met with the Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) and Suez Canal Economic Zone, Mohab Mamish, to discuss the latest developments with the tunnels project under the Suez Canal (in the city of Ismailia).
The meeting took place on Tuesday (5 December) during which the president directed the need for continuous development of the canal.
The Ismailia road tunnel is a twin tube road tunnel that will cross the…[restrict] existing and new Suez Canal north of the city of Ismailia for a length of 4.7km and at a depth of 70 metres. It is part of a larger development project in the Suez Canal corridor.
The completion of the development project including the tunnel has the highest priority in Egypt to boost economic growth.
Sisi underlined the importance of the Suez Canal as a pillar of the country’s economy and as a vital facility to the traffic of international trade and maritime navigation between the East and the West.
Together with tourism, the Suez Canal is Egypt’s biggest source of foreign currency and earnings on which a large proportion of the economy relies.
Spokesman for the presidency Bassam Rady said that Mamish informed the president that the SCA has established a department to manage and operate the tunnels and their maintenance.
The meeting also shed light on the fish farming aquaculture project currently being carried out in east Port Said and the clearing of Lake Manzala for fish farming in accordance with the international standards, where the SCA will participate in the project.
The meeting likewise dealt with the latest developments in the economic and industrial zones.
Rady said that Mamish had given Sisi a comprehensive report about the canal, including that it has recorded historic figures in terms of revenue and cargo transit vessels during the current year.[/restrict]
News continues below
MOL SIGNS BAUXITE TRANSPORT DEAL FROM GUINEA WITH ALUFER MINING LIMITIED
Mitsui OSK Lines Ltd (MOL) has announced the signing of a five year bauxite transport contract with Alufer Mining Limited. The contract was signed between Toshiaki Tanaka, MOL’s Head of Dry Cargo, and Bernard Pryor at MOL’s offices in Tokyo.
Alufer has received all required permissions from the West African government of Guinea with regard to building the Bel Air bauxite mine and construction commenced in January 2017.
The Bel Air mine is located…[restrict] 15km from the coast near the Cap Verga peninsula, 120km north of Guinea’s capital, Conakry and has a JORC compliant resource of over 146 million tons of trihydrate bauxite with low reactive silica.
Alufer is building and will operate the new Cap Verga export facility which will enable the loading of Capesize vessels anchored 32km from the coast.
Bauxite production is scheduled to start in the third quarter of 2018 and reach production of 5.5 million tonnes per annum. MOL’s ocean shipping services will support the project.
MOL says it continues to take a proactive stance in providing safe, reliable and efficient transport of bauxite from the Republic of Guinea and anticipates strong growth in demand for this commodity in that the current market for seaborne bauxite is approximately 100 million tons per annum and is forecast to grow 40% by 2025, primarily driven by import requirements in China.[/restrict]
News continues below
LIQUID CARGO HANDLING TO BE GIVEN A BOOST IN SOUTH AFRICA
Pro Liquid, the specialist liquid offloading services and equipment provider, is due to open its first African branch in Durban, South Africa at the beginning of 2018 to serve the African and Mozambican maritime markets.
With an almost 40-year history in the international market, Pro Liquid offers 24/7 worldwide solutions such as off and on-loading of any type of liquid cargo, de-bunkering operations using portable pumping equipment, salvage support services as well as the delivery of fire-fighting equipment, pumps and powerpacks, equipment sales, rental and repair.
The Durban office, to be manned by Frank Veenstra, forms part of the company’s expanding network of operational offices in the Netherlands and Singapore.
“Our core business is assisting vessels, oil platforms and other floating platforms with their pumping needs but we are also able to assist the on-shore clients with their pumping needs. A great example is our assistance with the clean-up and de-sludging of several API oil/water separators at one of the biggest refinery’s in South East Asia,” Veenstra explains.
“Furthermore we will soon be in the position to offer onsite reconditioning of off-spec bulk liquid cargoes such as chemicals, fuels or bio-fuels,” said Veenstra ahead of the opening of the South African branch. “This reconditioning service can be provided on site at shore installations or on board tankers during the voyage by using our portable equipment and highly trained technicians to avoid extra costs.”
Veenstra, who has a background in the oil and chemical inspection sector, has been involved in cargo superintendent work for leading shipping companies over the last seven years and is optimistic about the future of Pro Liquid in South Africa. “Our goal is to hire and train local technicians for the market and the prospects look promising,” he says, adding that further South African branches are likely.
The Durban branch is already equipped with a range of pumping equipment including diesel hydraulic powerpacks, submersible portable pumps, booster pumps, cargo hoses etc. All equipment is portable and can be mobilised within several hours after the call is made.
News continues below
VAN OORD’S MALDIVES PROJECT SCOOPS DPC INNOVATION AWARD
Dutch marine contractor Van Oord has been awarded a DPC Innovation Award for its innovative and sustainable approach to a land reclamation project in the Maldives.
Van Oord won the award in the ‘Innovation in Project Design – Open Water/ Coastal Dredging’ category at an award ceremony held in London last week.
According to the organisers, [restrict]the judges admired this totally rounded project with its large number of challenges – reclaiming land in the Maldives by enlarging a number of islands, protecting them with rock revetments and making much-needed development possible.
Van Oord enlarged three islands in the Maldives to make room for the fast-growing population, especially at the capital Male. Marine environment experts were involved to minimise the impact of the work on the marine environment.
One of the most notable procedures was the relocation of coral species, shifting them away from the reclamation areas and preserving them in a suitable area. Environmental engineers as well as Save the Beach, a local NGO were actively involved in monitoring the reefs.
The reclamation works have proven to be very valuable to the government of the Maldives as it continues to develop the nation and alleviate the congestion in Male.
The Maldives Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure can now spread government and social facilities over other islands and improve accessibility to, for example, mosques, hospitals and trade hubs. source: Van Oord[/restrict]
News continues below
GLOBAL NETWORK OF CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE IN MARINE TECHNOLOGY LAUNCHED
It was reported from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) HQ on 4 December that the Directors of five regional Maritime Technology Cooperation Centres (MTCCs) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish the global maritime technology centre network.
This network of MTCCS – in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America and the Pacific – is the mainstay of the GMN* maritime technology project, run by IMO and funded by the European Union.
MTCCs are expected to provide leadership in promoting ship energy-efficiency technologies and operations, and the reduction of harmful emissions from ships.
Through collaboration and outreach activities at regional level, the MTCCs will…[restrict] help countries develop national maritime energy-efficiency policies and measures, promote the uptake of low-carbon technologies and operations in maritime transport and establish voluntary pilot data-collection and reporting systems.
Speaking at the signing, IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim offered his congratulations to all five MTCC representatives, MTCC host institutions, host countries and regions, the European Union, and the IMO Team for the rapid progress made in forming the GMN since the project was first mooted two years ago.
His Excellency said: “The GMN project brings together two of the most important themes that IMO and its member states are pursuing as we move into a new era. These are developing new and innovative technology and building the necessary capacity, the latter especially directed to the developing world, to be in a position to take up that technology and then use it to its best advantage.
“Today, we live in a world in which new technology seems poised to have a transforming impact on all our lives. Shipping is no exception. Technology holds the key to a safer and more sustainable future for shipping.”
The GMN project supports IMO’s work in meeting three key UN Sustainable Development Goals:
- SDG 13, which includes a commitment to combat climate change and its impacts;
- SDG 7, which commits to ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all; and
- SDG 9 on industry, innovation and infrastructure.
The GMN project promotes international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology, in particular energy-efficiency and advanced, cleaner fossil-fuel technology, and fosters investment in energy infrastructure and clean-energy technology.
Following the signing ceremony, MTCC Directors and other representatives from the MTCCS, as well as from the European Union and IMO are meeting in the project steering committee this week.
On today (7 December), the first meeting of the Global Stakeholders Committee will be held, it is understood.
The Global Stakeholders Committee brings together technical experts to share ideas and provide long-term strategic guidance to the project.
Participation in the stakeholder committee is on a voluntary basis and no fees are paid.
The five MTCCS are:
MTCC-Africa – hosted by Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Mombasa, Kenya
MTCC-Asia – hosted by Shanghai Maritime University, China
MTCC-Caribbean – hosted by University of Trinidad and Tobago, Trinidad and Tobago
MTCC-Latin America – hosted by International Maritime University of Panama, Panama
MTCC-Pacific – hosted by Pacific Community, Suva, Fiji
The following signed the MoU: Dr Robert Kiplimo, Director, (MTCC-Africa); Professor Jin Yongxing, Director, MTCC-Asia; Ms Vivian Rambarath-Parasram, Director, MTCC-Caribbean; Mr Eladio Peñaloza, Head, MTCC-Latin America; and Mr Thierry Nervale, Director, MTCC-Pacific.
Also present at the signing ceremony was Ms Magda Kopczynska, Director, Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport (DG MOVE) of the European Commission.[/restrict]
Reported by Paul Ridgway
London
* Global Maritime Technologies Cooperation Centres (MTCCs) Developing countries and, in particular, Least Developed Countries and Small Islands Developing States, will be the main beneficiaries of this ambitious initiative. See also: https://gmn.imo.org
News continues below
Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group Two (SNMCMG2) has just finished participating in the Turkish-led maritime exercise NUSRET 2017 in the Aegean Sea off Canakkale, Turkey.
SNMCMG2, consisting of its flagship HMS Enterprise, Turkish minehunter TCG Alanya, Bulgarian minesweeper BGS Shkval, Italian minehunter ITS Crotone, Royal Navy minehunter HMS Pembroke and Hellenic Navy minehunter HS Evropi joined more than…[restrict] 17 units from the Turkish Navy and the navies of Bulgaria, Qatar and Greece. In addition, observers attended from Azerbaijan, Algeria, Qatar, Romania, Slovenia and Turkmenistan.
NUSRET is an annual exercise and this year took place between 25 November and 3 December 2017 in Saros Bay.
The aim of the exercise was to provide training in planning and execution of mine warfare and to improve the interoperability between ships from a number of participating countries.
This annual exercise contributes to interoperability across Allied and Partner nations and allows NATO units to test and validate concepts, procedures, systems and tactics.
SNMCMG2 is one of four multinational, integrated maritime forces made up of vessels from various Allied countries. These vessels, including their air assets, are constantly available to NATO to perform different tasks ranging from participating in exercises to intervening in operational missions.
Such groups provide NATO with a reliable and committed maritime capability for operations and other activities in peacetime and in periods of crisis and conflict. They also help to establish Alliance presence, demonstrate solidarity, conduct routine diplomatic visits to different countries, support transformation and provide a variety of military maritime capabilities to ongoing missions.[/restrict]
Reported by Paul Ridgway
London
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.
CHINESE SHIPBUILDERS SPEARHEADING THE RETURN TO WATER
Guangzhou Wenchong Shipyard is one of a number of Chinese shipbuilders that is spearheading the return to water-lubricated propulsion. Chinese shipbuilders are showing other yards in the Asia-Pacific region that seawater-lubricated shafts are less complicated to install than oil-based systems
Thordon Bearings has received another order from a Chinese shipyard for its COMPAC system, in a development that indicates more and more of the country’s shipbuilders are specifying water lubricated propeller shafting arrangements as their standard solution.
The latest order comes from COSCO Dalian Shipyard, which will install 600mm diameter COMPAC propeller shaft bearings, Thordon’s water quality packages (WQP), ThorShield shaft coatings and bronze shaft liners to three 62,000dwt multi-purpose vessels under construction for COSCO Shipping.
Alex Li, Managing Director, CY Engineering, Thordon Bearings’ partner in China, who secured the contract, said: “This latest order is significant in that it shows Chinese shipbuilders commitment to the Chinese government’s wider environmental strategy to reduce industry-borne emissions and pollutants. Thordon’s COMPAC water lubricated propeller shaft system is now becoming the standard arrangement for Chinese shipbuilders.”
Li is referring to recent orders for COMPAC from the Guangzhou Wenchong Shipyard and the Shanghai Shipyard, of which the latter has installed the water lubricated bearing system to 15 newbuilds to date.
Zhong Jie, Manager, Electromechanical Section, Purchasing & Supply Department, Shanghai Shipyard Co Ltd, said: “We are now very familiar with the Thordon solution. From many years’ experience, we know this product is really reliable. As a leader in water lubricated stern tube systems, Thordon’s professional approach has helped streamline the ship design and construction processes at the shipyard.”
Highlighting the key shipyard benefits of moving to water lubricated systems, Shen Yu Gui, Project Manager, Guangzhou Wenchong Shipyard, said: “Using Thordon’s COMPAC system is economically advantageous for us. It is easy to install, environmentally safe for shipowners and offers a longer service life than oil lubricated white steel bearings. Technical service is very important and CY Engineering/Thordon has done a fantastic job.”
In November, Guangzhou Wenchong Shipyard successfully installed Thordon’s COMPAC system to two newbuild containerships under construction for U.S-based Tropical Shipping. And later this month, the first of two 2700TEU containerships with COMPAC, Delaware Trader, will undergo sea trials for a UK-based owner.
Commenting on the success of COMPAC in the Chinese shipbuilding market, Sam Williams, Thordon Bearing’s Regional Manager, Eastern Asia, praised CY Engineering’s technical competency and local knowledge.
“There can be teething problems when a shipyard diverts from its standard offering but the application to Guangzhou Wenchong’s first COMPAC ship was a text-book installation. CY Engineering was responsible for all detailed technical/engineering work with the shipyard and teamed up with Thordon’s Global Service & Support (GSS) technicians to supervise the installation and commissioning processes, resulting in the system being installed very quickly, much to the delight of the yard.
“Installations such as this require close cooperation between our representative looking after the shipowner, Thordon’s GSS team and our local partner working with the shipbuilder. When we receive new orders, we approach both parties and work to achieve a preference on the part of the owner, and a commercial/technical agreement with the yard. This can be a process which goes through much iteration, depending on the owner’s involvement and on the preferences of the shipyard,” Williams said.
Craig Carter, Thordon’s Director of Marketing and Customer Service, added: “China’s ongoing commitment to reducing pollution across a number of industries is indicative in the work Chinese shipbuilders are doing to environmentally future-proof their newbuildings.
“The shipping industry is returning to seawater-lubricated systems for a number of commercial and technical reason and Chinese shipyards have been quick to understand the benefits of a COMPAC installation.”
Thordon Bearings and CY Engineering will be showcasing the COMPAC water lubricated propeller shaft arrangement at Marintec in Hall N2, Booth E61.
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.
South Africa’s ports welcomed another cruise liner of the 2017/18 season this week. MS NAUTICA, owned and operated by Oceania Cruises, arrived at the Port of Richards Bay on Saturday, 2 December and has since called at the Ports of Durban on 3 December and Cape Town on 5-6 December. NAUTICA will spend the month sailing between Richards Bay, Durban, Cape Town, Mossel Bay, East London and Port Elizabeth before departing for the remainder of her Indian Ocean Jubilee cruise that will end in Singapore in January 2018.
MS Nautica is 181 metres long and was launched in 1999. She caters for 684 guests and has a crew of 400 professionally trained European staff. The ship is one of more than 20 luxury cruise ships operated by 17 international cruise lines that will call at South Africa’s ports during the 2017/18 cruise season. At the Port of Durban she sailed in with around 630 passengers predominantly from Europe and North America, while in Cape Town she brought around 670 passengers into port.
Her South African calls this season are:
Richards Bay – 2 December 2017
Durban – 3 December 2017
Cape Town – 5 to 6 December 2017
Mossel Bay – 7 December 2017
Richards Bay – 9 December 2017
Durban – 11 to 12 December 2017
East London – 13 December 2017
Port Elizabeth – 14 December 2017
Cape Town – 20 to 22 December 2017
Port Elizabeth – 24 December 2017
Durban – 26 December 2017
Richards Bay – 27 December 2017
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
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 |
