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: OCEAN GIANT

Ocean Giant at Lyttelton, New Zealand, January 2018.  Picture: Alan Calvert, featuring in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news
Ocean Giant. Picture: Alan Calvert

We last featured this ship in February 2017, as the US-flagged Military Sealift Command-chartered general cargo ship OCEAN GIANT (17,590-dwt, built 2012) returned then to the New Zealand port of Lyttelton after replenishing the US stations in Antarctica with necessary supplies. In the picture above, taken earlier this month we see the ship after arriving at Lyttelton from Port Hueneme in California, prior to heading south the Antarctica on the same duty. While in port she loaded equipment and containers for the annual resupply of the research stations at Scott Base and McMurdo Sound in the Antarctic and will return bringing containers of unwanted matter and equipment, including all the trash accumulated over the year. This picture is by Alan Calvert

 

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DAMEN SHIPYARDS CAPE TOWN CONTRACTED FOR CSD FOR DREDGING AFRICA

Damen CSD250 dredger, featured in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news
Damen CSD250 dredger

Damen Shipyards Cape Town has received a contract for the supply of a Cutter Suction Dredger (CSD) 250.

The contract was signed by Dredging Africa (Pty) Ltd and as a result of Damen’s policy of series building standardised vessels, the CSD 250 was in stock and available for fast delivery in March 2018.

This will be the first Damen CSD to operate in South Africa. The contract for the CSD came about after Dredging Africa signed a memorandum of understanding with DSCT at the yard’s first African Dredging Seminar, held in October last year.

“We are very happy to be working with Damen Cape Town for the delivery of this dredger,” said Arend van de Wetering, Director of Dredging Africa. “From the outset, the collaboration has been excellent. Damen have gone out of their way to create the opportunity for this project to be realised. They really thought along with us to create a solution that matches exactly our needs – including looking at various financing options that are available.”

Damen Product Director Dredging Olivier Marcus said they were very pleased to be delivering the CSD to Dredging Africa. “The cooperation between us has been very fruitful and we are looking forward very much to delivering the vessel in a short space of time. Dredging has enormous potential to open up new trading opportunities in South Africa and we are proud to play our part in supporting this,” he said.

Understanding the importance that dredging has for South Africa and the wider region, Damen Cape Town decided to host the African Dredging seminar held last year. Cutter suction dredgers such as the CSD 250 also have the capability to maintain reservoirs (dams) ensuring the supply of drinking water in the country. Damen has previously delivered a number of products from the Damen Dredging Equipment (DDE) portfolio to Africa.

Dredging Africa intends to use its dredger on multiple contracts in South Africa and Southern Africa at large.

Damen’s CSD portfolio features a range of standardised dredgers often built for stock and customised for individual client requirements via the application of standard options. The firm has optimised its designs based on user experience and as a result is able to offer SCD’s with an outstanding high production to low operating cost ratio, extreme ergonomics, low noise & vibration and a layout aimed at ease of maintenance.

The modular nature of the design means that the CSD 250 can be transported easily, in just three containers, to the remotest of locations.

Damen Cape Town will provide support to Dredging Africa in the ongoing service and maintenance of the CSD, including with the supply of spare parts from stock in order to ensure maximum uptime of the dredger.

About Damen Shipyards Cape Town

Signing the contract referred to above are from left to right: First row: Friso Visser (Director of DSCT), Chris van Renssen (Director of Dredging Africa Ltd), Arend van de Wetering (Director of Dredging Africa Ltd), second row: Benny Bhali (Sales Manager for DSCT), feastured in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news
Signing the contract referred to above are from left to right: First row: Friso Visser (Director of DSCT), Chris van Renssen (Director of Dredging Africa Ltd), Arend van de Wetering (Director of Dredging Africa Ltd), second row: Benny Bhali (Sales Manager for DSCT)

Damen Shipyards Cape Town (DSCT) builds ships in Africa for Africa. To date, the yard has constructed and 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.

Damen Cape Town 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 a 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.

 

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ZIMBABWE GRAIN MILLERS ASSOC ACQUIRES OWN LOCOS AND WAGONS TO MOVE GRAIN

A pair of NRZ DE-10 diesel-electric locomotives on the Bulawayo-Mpopoma line Faced with an ongoing drought and a non-performing national railway, the Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) has taken the bold step of acquiring its own locomotives and 200 rail wagons to transport grain to various parts of the SADC country, featuring in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news
A pair of NRZ DE-10 diesel-electric locomotives on the Bulawayo-Mpopoma line
Faced with an ongoing drought and a non-performing national railway, the Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) has taken the bold step of acquiring its own locomotives and 200 rail wagons to transport grain to various parts of the SADC country.

Faced with the possibility that the drought will continue into the current summer and winter months, the country will be forced to import grain to feed its citizens.

The announcement of the two…[restrict] locomotives and 200 wagons followed a US$145,000 food donation from GMAZ to the Zimbabwe Defence Forces. GMAZ chairman Tafadzwa Musarara said the rolling stock had been acquired in order to carry grains from the ports in neighbouring Mozambique.

“The milling industry has procured more than 200 railway wagons and two locomotives of our own and what we are waiting for is the regularization of this fleet by government and put it on the main railway system,” said Musarara.

“This will augment and compliment what the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) has so that we are able to move food consignments from Beira and Maputo into Zimbabwe via Mutare or Machipanda,” Musarara said.

The embattled NRZ operates with a fleet of 166 aged locomotives, of which only 60 remain functional. Faced with bankruptcy, NRZ is struggling to maintain what it has. The rail company owes rail workers more3 than $90 million in unpaid wages.

The National Railways of Zimbabwe was once regarded as one of the best-run railways in Africa and was internationally admired and respected. source: NewZimbabwe.com with additional comment[/restrict]

 

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WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE, NOR ANY DROP TO DRINK

Boudicca in Cape Town harbour, January 2018. Picture: Ian Shiffman, featured in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news
Boudicca in Cape Town harbour, January 2018. Picture: Ian Shiffman

* Acknowledgements to Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

That may well have been the thought of those on board Fred Olsen Line’s cruise ship BOUDICCA this week in Cape Town harbour, when the ship, which was supposed to overnight in the Mother City, was forced to leave harbour on Tuesday 23 January at 17h52, returning the following morning (yesterday) at 05h55.

Why was this necessary? Well, as most South African readers are aware, Cape Town and the surrounding Western Cape province is in the midst of one of the worst-recorded droughts, and the city is faced with…[restrict] being about to run out of water within weeks.

This has already impacted on the good citizens of the city who are restricted in the amount of water they may use and who will shortly face the prospect of lining up at water points across the city to load water in canisters for their daily use.

This is also the annual Cruise Season, when cruise ships call and often stay overnight. The port is also a popular place to commence and complete segments of a ship’s cruise, which sees passengers disembarking and others arriving to join the ship for the next section of a particular cruise.

Cruise ships, as with other types of ships in the harbour, require water, for drinking purposes as well as for other reasons. Most ships are now capable of desalinating water for use on board although cruise ships seldom use such water for drinking purposes, preferring to take on fresh water at the respective ports of call.

Spare a thought therefore, for the plight of the Boudicca, which found itself short of drinking water and unable to desalinate while in port mainly because of the quality of water found in all ports. Thus the ship had to sail unexpectedly – one of those often advertised “cruise to nowhere” overnights which is what this became. It appears Boudicca went to sea simply to be able to desalinate water for use on board and until it was able to sail according to the schedule.

Boudicca is currently undertaking a number of cruises along the southern African coast which continue into February.[/restrict]

 

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PLIGHT OF ARRESTED TUG IN DURBAN HARBOUR REVEALED

Fr Herman Giraldo on board the tug PSD2 (IMO 8319615) in Durban harbour, with a sign revealing the plight of the crew. Picture: AoS, featured in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news
Fr Herman Giraldo on board the tug PSD2 (IMO 8319615) in Durban harbour, with a sign revealing the plight of the crew. Picture: AoS

Most of the crew of the detained tug PSD2 which is currently at B berth in Durban harbour, are to be repatriated back to their homes

Eight of the eleven crew on board the tug are hoping to return home shortly, but only after they receive outstanding wages going back 15 months.

The 40-metre tug was previously named SOFALA (736-gt, built 1983) and before that again was well-known in Durban as the PENTOW SERVICE, an offshore service tug that maintained the offshore single buoy mooring (SBM) at Isipingo. She arrived back in Durban in December and was arrested shortly afterwards. Welfare workers including the chaplain of the Apostleship of the Sea (AoS), Fr Herman Giraldo, found the ship and crew to be in a dire condition, with the crew in need of food and water and two crew members requiring immediate medical treatment.

The tug PSD2 is well-known in Durban as PENTOW SERVICE when she serviced the offshore single buoy mooring (SBM) at Isipingo for many years. Picture is by Terry Hutson
The tug PSD2 is well-known in Durban as PENTOW SERVICE when she serviced the offshore single buoy mooring (SBM) at Isipingo for many years. Picture is by Terry Hutson

It seems the owners/operator of the ship keeps promising that outstanding wages will be paid but nothing ever comes. Arrangements are now being made for the tug to be sold after which the crew will receive outstanding moneys due.

PSD2 is flagged in Tanzania, which as described in an article in Africa PORTS & SHIPS’ Tuesday edition (Click Here) this week, is one of the worst performing ships register, so much so that the president of Tanzania has been forced to take action in order to prevent illegal activities that have been taking place.

The remaining three crew, the master and two engineers, are apparently unable to leave the ship, according to Fr Giraldo.

“Arrangements are being made for the vessel to be sold and the men are expected to get paid when this happens. The remaining crew (the master and two engineers) on board are not allowed to leave the port,” he said.

When the tug arrived it was infested with rats and cockroaches. A pest control firm was brought in to fumigate. In addition to the Catholic Apostleship of the Sea, chaplains from other organisations have also rallied round to assist. Only one of the crew is a Catholic.

The crew were tight-lipped and did not want to speak about their situation, Giraldo said, but eventually they disclosed they had not been paid for between 9 and 15 months. He said there was a feeling of hopelessness on board the vessel.

Fr Giraldo’s organisation has been able to secure an emergency grant £1,000 from Guild of Benevolence of the IMarEST (The Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology) for medical bills, food and sanitation. Fresh water has also been provided as well as clothing and toiletries.

The case of PSD2 is another reminder of the situation that some seafarers find themselves, long distances from home and with no support base while being exploited by unscrupulous employers. It is partly for this purpose that the various seafarer missions exist in many ports to provide help, support and guidance. Seafarer trade unions also get involved, often appointing legal counsel to force owners to cooperate or face having their ships sold, with seafarer wages among the very first to be paid out.

 

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IMPROVED TRAFFIC FOR TAZARA RAILWAY

Tazara fuel train, featured in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news
Tazara fuel train

Tanzania Zambia Railways Authority (TAZARA) says that increased business at the port of Dar es Salaam is responsible for increased traffic on the rails of TAZARA between the Tanzanian port and destinations in or from Zambia.

According to TAZARA’s managing director, Bruno Ching’andu, freight traffic in the year 2016/17 increased to 170,000 tonnes, up from 130, 000 tonnes recorded in the previous year.

He said that …[restrict] passenger traffic increased from 414,746 passengers to 487856 in the 2016/2017 year while the transit time on journeys for freight reduced from 8.5 to 6.4 days.

Ching’andu said that demand for transportation of ores such as copper and manganese has increased.

“More cargo to Dar es salaam has been stimulated by improved services by management in such areas as reduced transit time, accidents and security risks. Improved performance of the Dar es Salaam port will increase cargo on the line,” he said.

Mr Ching’andu was speaking during a media luncheon on Thursday last week, as quoted by the Times of Zambia.

The MD said the promotion of railway policy by the shareholding governments had also helped improve the performance of TAZARA.

Tanzania's rail network. TAZARA is the thin orange line stretching from Dar es Salaam into Zambia, lower half of map, featured in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news
Tanzania’s rail network. TAZARA is the thin orange line stretching from Dar es Salaam into Zambia, lower half of map

There was need for management at the company to improve capacity in the short term by getting into access agreements and lease of equipment as well as enhancing marketing efforts to recapture more freight.

However, lack of sufficient recapitalization, inadequate rolling stock and poor truck condition leading to low locomotive speeds was affecting the performance of the company.

“Huge deferred maintenance leading to low motive power and wagon availability, inadequate rolling stock obsolete signalling and telecommunication equipment are some of the factors affecting our performance in the sector,” he claimed. source: Times of Zambia.[/restrict]

 

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TRANSNET NATIONAL PORTS AUTHORITY HOSTS NATIONAL AWARDS

Img 1463 Winner of the Top Performance (Team) category was TNPA’s Lighthouse and Navigational Services division, featured in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news
Winner of the Top Performance (Team) category was TNPA’s Lighthouse and Navigational Services division

Transnet National Ports Authority’s (TNPA) National Safety Competition and Chief Executive’s Awards took place during a glamorous event, hosted by Chief Executive, Shulami Qalinge, late last year at the East London International Convention Centre. This was the culmination of nationwide competitions held at all TNPA’s ports and at head office.

In the National Safety Competition 20 fire fighting teams, 20 first aid teams and SHE Reps from all the ports as well as Lighthouse and Navigation Systems and Dredging Services battled it out for the three top positions. Winners in the Fire Fighting Category were the Durban Ship Repair team who won in a time of 3.24 minutes, beating their closest rivals Ngqura Backdraft by 21 seconds. Port Elizabeth’s Marine Fire Phoenix team took third place. Port of Durban’s Zamajama Mthembu won the SHE Representatives Category with 98%. It was a close finish with Port of Ngqura’s Lumkile Mvelase coming in second with 97% and Port of Saldanha’s Granwell Losper taking third place with 96%. The First Aid category was won by Cape Town’s SA Marine team with 98%, who narrowly beat Ngqura Conquerors who scored 97.8%. Cape Town Oxygen team came third with 96.7%.

Winners and Runners Up in the Chief Executive’s Awards were as follows:

img 1335 TNPA awards, feastured in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news
The winning team in the Customer Excellence (Team) category

The winning team in the Customer Excellence (Team) category (above) was the Procurement department at the Port Elizabeth. TNPA Chief Executive Shulami Qalinge is second from the right.
Customer Excellence (Team): Winner: Procurement, Port Elizabeth
1st Runner Up: Ship Repair Sturrock, Port of Cape Town
2nd Runner Up: Continuous Improvement, Richards Bay

Customer Excellence (Individual): Winner: Tolane Kotsi, Cape Town
1st Runner Up: Edith Carey, Durban
2nd Runner Up: Martha Ntombela, Richards Bay

Winner of the Leadership Excellence (Individual) category, featuring in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news
Winner of the Leadership Excellence (Individual) category

Winner of the Leadership Excellence (Individual) category was Trevor Anley from the Port of Durban, pictured with Moshe Motlohi, Durban Port Manager (left) and TNPA Chief Executive Shulami Qalinge (right)
Leadership Excellence: Winner: Trevor Anley, Durban
Runners Up: Nokuzola Nkowane, HQ
Donovan Samuels, Saldanha; Carl Gabriel, Dredging Services; Kgadi Matlala, Port Elizabeth

Culture Ambassador:

Top Five Culture Ambassadors: Lefa Ranthamane, East London; Nobathembu Stuurman, Ngqura; Nomfundo Zuke, Richards Bay; Sikhokhele Mngoma, Cape Town;
Sikhulule Malghas, Port Elizabeth

Innovators (Team): Winner: ISM Team, Dredging Services
1st Runner Up: Ngqura Civilians

Innovators (Individual): Winner:
1st Runner Up: Gandhi Marule, HQ
2nd Runner Up: Quelynne Brunders, Mossel Bay

Employee Volunteerism: Winner: Julie Chelliah, HQ
1st Runner Up: Evelyn Mantshiyane, East London

Top Performance (Team): Winner: Lighthouse and Navigational Services
1st Runner Up: Security Department, Richards Bay

 

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** INTERNATIONAL NEWS **
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REGIONAL ROUTE SHARING MADE POSSIBLE IN THE BALTIC SEA

Today, VTS centres receive route information via radio contact and will then have to either plot it into their own system or not. With the new integration scheme, they can receive a full visualization instantly. Illustration kindly provided by EfficienSea and VISSIM ©. Featured in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news
Today, VTS centres receive route information via radio contact and will then have to either plot it into their own system or not. With the new integration scheme, they can receive a full visualization instantly. Illustration kindly provided by EfficienSea and VISSIM ©.

Maritime digitalization carried out in the European project EfficienSea2 has enabled effective route sharing between different VTS systems in the Baltic Sea. It has the potential to drastically cut the reporting effort for the ship’s crew, while offering authorities a better ability to ensure safe traffic at sea.

The days may soon be over when mariners have to pick up a radio to take…[restrict] on the cumbersome task of reporting their vessel and route parameters every time they cross into a new VTS area – at least for those sailing in the Baltic Sea.

By cooperating with the Finnish Transport Agency as a part of the EU-funded project EfficienSea2, the Norwegian surveillance system manufacturer Vissim has become the first operator to integrate voyage data from the so-called ENSI-system (Enhanced Navigation Support Information) in their own vessel traffic monitoring system.

This ability, explained Max Semenov, Chief Technical Officer at Vissim, will allow VTS centres and navigators to drastically reduce their reporting burdens: “Today, a ship sailing from Helsinki to Oslo passes many VTS zones and has to share voyage data with all of them. Some require more than others, but in most cases some form of radio contact is necessary. Being able to integrate voyage information from a different route reporting scheme and distribute the information to all relevant actors along the route will make it possible to report only once per voyage.”

More feedback, better routes

The ENSI system has been developed in Finland and allows ships in the Baltic Sea to share their electronic route plan and the mandatory reports needed for the voyage with any VTS or SRS system using it. The ship will shortly thereafter receive feedback on safety issues, weather conditions and so forth from automated sources.

The ability to integrate ENSI with a VTS system is achieved by using the so-called RTZ format for route exchange, which makes it possible to share the electronic route with VTS centres or other stakeholders along the route. For Vissim, and potentially other equipment manufacturers, this will allow them to offer new possibilities for maritime actors using their technology, while ENSI may prove even more beneficial for its users:

Mikko Klang, a consultant for the Finnish Transport Agency on ENSI-related issues commented: “Often, VTS and SRS centres will have route recommendations or restrictions based on draught or safety hazards. With this integration they will have a much simpler time giving feedback. They will receive the reports and route plans in a clear, digital, way with little room for misunderstandings – and they will have much more time, as they don’t have to wait for the ships to enter their VTS domain before receiving information.”

Max Semenov of Vissim also sees the added safety as a selling point to their customers: “By being first movers on this, we hope to offer our customers enhanced situational awareness while at the same time being able to decrease the mental workload placed on VTS officers.”

Global potential

At first, the ability to integrate is directly beneficial for the part of the Baltic Sea Region covered by both ENSI and Vissim, but more important is the ambition of the EfficienSea2 project to have a global impact. By demonstrating how such route-sharing capabilities can be developed between different systems, EfficienSea2 hopes to lay the groundwork for future efforts toward smarter navigation.

Klang added: “The principles used to integrate ENSI’s and Vissim’s systems can be applied to many other regions of the world. When a captain knows his or her route and which waypoints they will pass, it makes little sense to have to report that more than once. Hopefully, we are helping to eliminate that burden.”

In order to exploit the new possibilities of integrating the ENSI data in other vessel traffic monitoring systems, manufacturers can find more information through the so-called Maritime Connectivity Platform or at the website of ENSI. Vissim will soon be offering their users to benefit directly from the work being done in EfficienSea2.[/restrict]

 

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YEMEN CONFLICT FORCES NEW SECURITY RECOMMENDATIONS

Gulf of Aden, featured in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news

In response to the threats arising from the conflict in Yemen, BIMCO, ICS and INTERTANKO have published interim guidance on maritime security in the southern Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb. Shipowners and operators should be aware of new threat patterns in the area. This was announced on 24 January. The publication is supported by the International Group of Protection & Indemnity Clubs (IGP&I).

EUNAVFOR, the European Union Naval Force, and the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) have advised that a range of threats other than piracy, such as sea mines and water borne improvised explosive devices (WBIEDs), are potential risks in the area.

In the words of Angus Frew, BIMCO Secretary General and CEO:…[restrict] “We have been advised that these threats are real, and therefore decided to provide guidance for ships operating in the area. We have seen two incidents in January, and we want to make sure owners and operators are aware and advise their crews accordingly.”

It is important that company security officers and Masters are informed of these new threats, as the threat patterns and mitigating measures differ from the more familiar regional threat of piracy.

This guidance stresses the importance of using the Maritime Security Transit Corridor, registration with Maritime Security Centre Horn of Africa (MSCHOA) and reporting to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), as well as reviewing and updating risk assessments and plans to include these new threats. The guidance also includes advice specific to identified threat types, including WBIEDs and complements the guidance provided in BMP 4.

ICS Secretary General, Peter Hinchliffe added: “This guidance supports the activity of military forces in the region, and adds a further layer to the awareness and preparedness of ships in the region. That trade continues through these waters demonstrates shipping’s resilience in the face of such threats. The ability of the industry to successfully risk assess dynamic situations in cooperation with State resources and naval operations ensures the continued safety and security of maritime trade.”

Dr Phillip Belcher, INTERTANKO’s Marine Director, reflected: “In response to the urgent need, we have produced this practical guide for Masters and seafarers. This will become a valuable planning tool and should provide some reassurance to our industry.”

Interim Guidance on Maritime Security in the Southern Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb is available on the BIMCO, ICS and INTERTANKO websites.

See: HERE

Reported by Paul Ridgway
London[/restrict]

 

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RECENT BOOKS : RMS ST HELENA

St Helena in the Pool of London early 2014. Picture: Ambrose Greenway ©, featured in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news
St Helena in the Pool of London early 2014. Picture: Ambrose Greenway ©

Books about RMS St Helena

St Helena A Maritime History

By Trevor Boult

book cover, appearing in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news

ISBN 978 1 4456 5841 4
Softback
96 pages
£13.49

Proceeds from sale of the book will go towards the Saint Helena National Trust
Published by Amberley Publishing, The Hill, Stroud, Gloucestershire GL5 4EP GB

Website: www.amberley-books.com

And……

RMS St Helena Royal Mail Ship Extraordinary

By John Bryant

featuring in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news

ISBN 978 1 911268 02 4
Softback
96 pages
£16.00

Published by Ferry Publications
PO Box 33
Ramsey
Isle of Man
IM99 4LP

Website: www.ferrypubs.co.uk

Compiled by Paul Ridgway
London

 

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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.

BIODEGRADABLE EALS UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT AS MORE STERNTUBE BEARINGS FAIL

Thordon EALS featured in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news

Thordon Bearings has welcomed an industry initiative to evaluate the effect of biodegradable lubricants on sterntube bearings following a reported marked increase in sealed oil lubricated propeller shaft bearing failures.

While many ship operators consider the rise in use of environmentally acceptable lubricants (EAL) a cure-all to meeting environmental regulations, particularly in waters where the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has regulated the use of mineral oils, their performance as a propeller shaft bearing lubricant has come under increasing scrutiny.

It is thought some EALs may impede bearing and seal performance, damaging critical…[restrict] components and compromising oil-tight integrity.

Terry McGowan, President and CEO of Thordon Bearings said: “The initiative to verify EAL performance as a bearing lubricant comes at a critical juncture in the maritime industry. Ship operators are beginning to spurn mineral oil-based lubricants in favour of cleaner, more reliable alternatives, but as yet there is little evidence to indicate that EALs can do what they’re supposed to do without damaging machinery or the environment. There is a lot of confusion.”

McGowan suggests that the US EPA has inadvertently added to this confusion by determining that four major types of lubricants can meet all the necessary required criteria to be classified as an approved EAL– 1) vegetable oils 2) synthetic esters, 3) polyalkylene glycols (PAG’s), and 4) seawater; however, satisfactory operational performance is another matter.

“Not all of these EALs perform in the same way,” said McGowan, referring to a 2014 paper Understanding Biodegradable Lubricants, in which the International Marine Contractors Association warned that “choosing the correct type of lubricant for a particular application can be problematic, given that most types offer some degree of biodegradability, but differ in performance and regulatory compliance”.

“While these environmentally-friendly lubricants can cost significantly more than mineral oil-based products,” said McGowan, a chemical engineer by training, “the real concern is when biodegradable oils mix with water. Their viscosity can deteriorate with water ingress, resulting in reduced lubricating capacity and potential damage to seals and bearings. One easy solution for newbuildings is to use an open seawater lubricated system, eliminating these EAL issues entirely and saving the ship owner money.”

A well-known shaft seal supplier added weight to this debate in December last year, when it claimed some EALs are incompatible with the sealing material, resulting in hydrolysis – a phenomenon that can weaken the sealing material, significantly shortening the seal’s operational life.

Referring to the 1999 large canola oil spill in Vancouver harbour, Canada, which killed thousands of seabirds, Craig Carter, Thordon’s Director of Marketing, raises the environmental issue. “EALs were specifically developed to protect the marine environment from oil-based pollution but just because it says biodegradable on the label doesn’t necessarily mean they are environmentally safe to aquatic life.”

Carter continued: “We issued a statement in 2015 calling for more research on biodegradable lubricants regarding their operational and environmental performance, so are pleased to hear there is now a concerted effort to provide shipowners and operators with the information they need to make better informed lubricant decisions.”

DNV-GL, in conjunction with marine insurers The Swedish Club, Norwegian Hull Club and Gard & Skuld, recently announced the launch of a test programme of EAL’s at the University of Sheffield (UoS), U.K. The testing will focus on EAL lubrication performance in stern tube bearings and could influence future Class Society rules.

“The technology does appear to have been introduced to the market quickly and without sufficient research. Unlike seawater lubricated propeller shaft bearings which have been around for many decades, there are no guarantees these new EAL lubricants actually work as mineral oils have,” said Carter.

“In fact, it is interesting to note that the DNV-GL research will not include the performance of the ‘no cost EAL’ – seawater, but then there have been no reports of ships that have been immobilised using seawater as the propeller shaft lubricant.”[/restrict]

 

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GENERAL NEWS REPORTS – UPDATED THROUGH THE DAY

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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 : FAREWELL, RMS ST HELENA

Bagpipes as RMS St Helena readies for departure from Cape Town, featured in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news

CARRYING THE PAYING OFF PENANT featured in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news

St Helena leaves the berth at Cape Town 24 January 2018, featured in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news

A tug provides a water spray farewell as RMS St Helena eases off her quay and heads for the South Atlantic one last time. Pictures by Ian Shiffman - feastured in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news
A tug provides a water spray farewell as RMS St Helena eases off her quay and heads for the South Atlantic one last time. Pictures by Ian Shiffman

Yesterday, Wednesday 24 January saw the final sailing out of Cape Town of the mail ship RMS St HELENA, bound for the island whose name she has carried since launching in 1989. The 6,767-gt combined passenger and cargo ship has had one duty for her entire lifespan thus far – of serving and supplying the island of St Helena as well as that of Ascension Island also in the mid-South Atlantic and on occasion to the even more remote island of Tristan da Cunha. Much of this time has been via the port of Cape Town in South Africa though the ship also made visits between the UK and the South Atlantic islands. Now, with the advent of air travel following the construction of an airport on St Helena (Ascension already had one) the island’s passenger and small parcel requirements will be handled by the South African airline Airlink, flying a weekly service on Saturdays out of Johannesburg and completing the journey in a little over four hours rather than weeks. Cargo will still be carried by sea using merchant shipping.

Yesterday saw the nostalgic and somewhat emotional final departure from Cape Town, to the accompaniment of a bag pipe band and the traditional carrying of the ship’s paying-off pennant by crew from the ship. RMS St Helena will call at St Helena and return to Cape Town one last time in February. These pictures are by Ian Shiffman

 

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

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