TODAY’S BULLETIN OF MARITIME NEWS
Click on headline to go direct to story : use the BACK key to return
- First View : IVS KAWANA
- Dredging of Maputo channel leads to significant increase in port volumes
- Fisheries management is key to reducing hunger, poverty
- Union threatens strike to cripple Nigerian ports by 5 February
- Walvis Bay railway line to Krantzberg to be upgraded
- Uganda presses on with its SGR rail project
- The Polar Medal 2018
- Hapag-Lloyd enhances its Europe-Australia Express via Reunion service
- Maersk in joint discussions at Opening Oceans Conference
- Expected Ship Arrivals and Ships in Port
- Cruise News and Naval Activities
- Pics of the Day : BOUDICCA
SEND NEWS REPORTS AND PRESS RELEASES TO
info@africaports.co.za
News continues below
Island View Shipping (IVS) vessels seem to be making a habit of calling at the New Zealand port of Lyttelton, far from their ‘home’ base in Durban as a member of the Grindrod Group family of companies. That statement conveniently overlooks that these days IVS and most other Grindrod ships are managed out of Singapore but stubbornly we continue to think of them as “our” ships. IVS KAWANA (IMO 9303376) is seen here arriving in the South Island port for Christchurch to discharge a cargo of urea, loaded in Jubail, Saudi Arabia. The 32,642-dwt bulker was built in 2005 at the Kanda Shipbuilder yard in Kure, Japan. She is not only managed from Singapore but is flagged there as well. These pictures are by Alan Calvert
News continues below
DREDGING OF MAPUTO CHANNEL LEADS TO SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN PORT VOLUMES
Total cargo handled at the Mozambique Port of Maputo increased to 18.2 million tonnes in 2017, up 22% on the 2016 figure of 14.9 million tonnes.
This has been revealed in a statement issued by the Maputo Port Development Company (MPDC) which attributes the significant increase to the port throughput in part to having dredged its approaches and alongside some of the berths.
The main channels were dredged during the year to increase the depth from 11 metres to 14.2 metres, thus enabling much bigger ships to call at both Maputo and Matola.
Maputo Port handled 14.9 million tons in 2016 and 18.2 million tons last year, representing a 22 percent increase.
“Dredging has led to a 40 percent increase in cargo capacity in Maputo and a 55 percent increase in cargo capacity at Matola,” said Executive Director Osório Lucas.
The statement revealed that cargo handled by rail also showed an upward curve in 2017.
“The rail volume of the main cargo handled by the port of Maputo, especially ferrochrome and chromium, grew by almost 100 percent (from 411,000 tons in 2016 to almost 1 million tons in 2017),” the MPDC statement states.
According to the MPDC it will rehabilitate Piers 6,7,8 and 9 to allow larger ships to dock. This work is to commence in the second quarter of this year.
MPDC says that it intends to continue its programme of developing projects to meet the demands of the regional market. The Port of Maputo aims to increase its throughput of cargo handled to 30 million tons a year by the end of its concession period. source: O País
News continues below
FISHERIES MANAGEMENT IS KEY TO REDUCING HUNGER, POVERTY
Headlines such as this should not apply in modern South Africa, but unfortunately they do.
A view taken by stakeholders who attended the first port-call event in Durban last Friday, states that fisheries management plays an important role in reducing hunger and poverty, as well as creating jobs and sustainable growth in the southern African region.
Held under the theme, ‘Supporting the application of the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries management considering climate and pollution impacts,’ the event was part of a survey programme of a research vessel, under the EAF-Nansen Programme, which has specific port call events on board aimed to increase awareness about ocean issues.
The general objective of the surveys being conducted with the Dr. Fridtjof Nansen research vessel, which was in the port of Durban last week, is to…[restrict] collect data on distribution and abundance of fish stocks, biodiversity, environmental conditions, occurrence of micro plastics, using cutting-edge technology and sophisticated equipment to assist developing countries assemble scientific data critical to sustainable fisheries management, and to study how a changing climate is affecting the oceans.
The new research vessel, the third to be named Dr. Fridtjof Nansen (IMO 9762716) in the 40th year of a partnership between Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and Norway, is a unique platform for knowledge generation and capacity development.
The ship houses seven different laboratories packed with high tech equipment, and is the only marine research ship on the globe that flies the UN flag.
The event also provided an excellent opportunity to flag the collaboration between the national authorities, Norway and FAO, as well as regional and international partners to generate knowledge that can help address key issues facing the oceans today.
Speaking at the event held on board the ship, FAO representative in South Africa, Lewis Hove, underlined the importance of the partnership between the organization and the Norwegian Government in implementing the project.
Hove noted that beyond the information that will make it possible to improve the management of fisheries, and leading to more sustainable resources use, the associated research will allow a better understanding of the impacts of climate change and other external factors, including pollution on aquatic ecosystems.
“This new and impressive ship brings important innovations and technological capabilities necessary to improve scientific research. The 2018 regional research programme of this new ship that we are welcoming, starts here in Durban, South Africa, and is expected to end in October 2018 in Phuket, Thailand.
“The survey will cover the south-eastern part of Africa and Indian Ocean, as well as the Bay of Bengal. This new and impressive ship brings important innovations and technological capabilities necessary to improve scientific research,” he said.
Hove added that the EAF/Nansen programme has a long and sustained history of practical, useful and innovative research around South Africa, and elsewhere in the world.
This has been very important in generating, not only knowledge, but valuable collaborations within and amongst countries, he said.
Sustainable use of fisheries and aquaculture
In his address, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) Minister Senzeni Zokwana said that the department’s mandate is to promote the development and sustainable use of fisheries and aquaculture, as well as the development of the local fisheries sector.
Minister Zokwana said the formal collaboration between South Africa and Norway in the field of Fisheries Management began right after the first South African democratic election in 1994, when the two countries signed the Memorandum of Understanding to facilitate strengthening of the capacity of the new democratic government, post 1994.
Norwegian Ambassador to South Africa, Trine Skymoen, said Norway and South Africa have developed a close partnership in the Oceans Economy.
“Marine Research, such as that provided for by the Nansen Programme, is of critical importance for unleashing the ocean’s full potential in a sustainable manner,” Skymoen said.
About EAF-Nansen Programme
The EAF-Nansen Programme is becoming one of the main references for FAO in supporting African countries in their efforts to manage fisheries and implement the principles of sustainable development.
The programme is funded by the Government of Norway, through the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation and implemented by FAO, in close collaboration with the Norwegian Institute for Marine Research that operates the vessel and provides scientific services to the programme.
In 2017, the South African Government, through DAFF and Environmental Affairs and FAO signed a cooperative programme agreement for the implementation of the EAF-Nansen Programme.
These efforts are in line with global and regional priorities, as outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals. It is also consistent with FAO’s Strategic Objective ‘Make agriculture, forestry and fisheries more productive and sustainable.’
Several survey legs have been planned, and detailed planning is ongoing with the scientists of the region to set the priorities. – SAnews.gov.za[/restrict]
News continues below
UNION THREATENS STRIKE TO CRIPPLE NIGERIAN PORTS BY 5 FEBRUARY
A general strike by workers belonging to the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) threatens to shut down all ports unless the federal government carries out immediate emergency fixes to all access roads leading to the Port of Apapa in Lagos.
MWUN has given its ultimatum to the government adding the date of 5 February, following which the union will call out its members to close the ports across the country.
The matter arises from the severe congestion that by itself serves to paralyse access to the port of Apapa. In a statement issued by…[restrict] the union, and signed by its president-general, Adewale Adeyanju, MWUN said government must remove all the trucks that are blocking the road access along the Oshodi-Apapa dual carriageway. In addition government must fill in all the potholes and ‘craters’ and to generally fix the roads leading to the port in order to make them ‘motorable’.
“If by Monday, February 5, 2018, the trucks are not removed and the craters and potholes filled, the union will withdraw all its members from the ports nationwide until these two demands are met.”
MWUN said the threat of a strike had become necessary after the federal government displayed an inability to repair access roads into the ports in various parts of the country. This was despite previous ultimatums issued by the unions, including a 21-day ultimatum issued on 14 May 2017 to fix the roads, especially the Oshodi-Apapa Dual Carriage Way leading to Apapa and Tin-Can ports.
However, before the ultimatum was due to expire the management of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) met with the union and pleaded that they were doing something to fix the roads.
“We were assured that remedial works would be done on the road because it was not captured in 2017 national budget,” said Adeyanju.
“We decided to suspend our planned industrial action. We waited and endured very harrowing experiences on the access roads to the Ports in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Calabar and Warri, hoping upon hopes that the government will at least, do a quick fix on the roads to make them motorable.
“But, nine months after the union suspended its strike action, the roads have continued to deteriorate.
Adding to the woes of road users, truck operators have taken to using the road from Otto Wharf as a parking and mechanical repair yard area for heavy trucks, including trucks abandoned by their drivers and owners.
The road, he said had become a haven for criminals who use every opportunity to attack, assault and rob innocent Nigerians including union members who walk to work each day because motor vehicles can no longer use the road.
Adeyanju said that if things remain as they are, it will lead to retrenchment of the workers – “we cannot afford to lose any of our members to joblessness,” he said. source: This Day[/restrict]
News continues below
WALVIS BAY RAILWAY LINE TO KRANTZBERG TO BE UPGRADED
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved the finance for the rehabilitation and upgrade of the railway extending from the Namibian Port of Walvis Bay to Arandis and Kranzberg (Karibib). The line links the port with the capital Windhoek as well as with TransNamib’s North-South routes and has therefore considerable significance regarding a rail transport corridor with other SADC countries.
This upgrade will take three years to complete and will enable trains to operate safely at speeds of up to 80 km/h for freight trains and up to 100 km/h for passenger trains.
The project forms part of a wider intervention aimed at making Namibia a logistics hub to service the 400 million people SADC market. The overall objective of the intervention, says the report, is to contribute to reduction of poverty and inequality, and boost economic growth through addressing bottlenecks in the transport infrastructure.
The specific objective however is to promote the linkage of Walvis Bay’s sea port to the hinterland and to the neighbouring countries.
At the completion of the project, the expected outcome is an increased capacity of the railway line with an improved axle load capacity to meet the SADC standards and resulting in the increased average train speeds to about 60-80 km/hr for freight in comparison to the present average speed of 20-40 km/hr.
The AfDB reports says the increased capacity will promote competitiveness of the railway sub-sector with the ripple effect of combined estimate of 4,000 direct and indirect jobs to be created, increased revenues for rail operators and reduced cost of transport for the corridor with promotion of a more balanced modal split between road and rail, which is heavily skewed to road at present.
The project consists of the comprehensive upgrade of a 210km rail link connecting the Port of Walvis Bay to the northern and southern limbs of the Namibian rail network. This anchors future rail network expansion along all key trade logistical corridors pursued in terms of national transport logistical planning.
Namibia’s rail network consists of 2,382 route-km of tracks, using the same Cape gauge (3ft 6ins or 1067mm) used by most other SADC countries including South Africa, Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Tanzania, Mozambique and the DRC.
In announcing that approval of the loan had been made, Amadou Oumarou, director of AfDB’s Infrastructure, Cities & Urban Development Department said:
“This road and rail project will have a welcome effect on Namibia’s ability to integrate with the other members of the Southern African Development Community, improving access to both sea and air ports.”
AfDB is also providing financial support for the development of the new Walvis Bay Container Terminal.
News continues below
UIGANDA PRESSES ON WITH ITS SGR RAIL PROJECT
After a period when Uganda appeared to show little enthusiasm for the construction of a standard gauge railway (4ft 8.5ins) to connect the capital Kampala with Kenya’s SGR, and thus to the port at Mombasa, the government has now begun to fast track its development.
At another point Uganda even appeared as though it intended connecting its rail network with …[restrict]that of Tanzania to the south, as it has done with the oil pipeline project. However that is all in the past now and suddenly there is some urgency, with reports that Uganda is also undertaking the development of a Greater Kampala Light Rail Transit System.
The SGR which is to connect with the Kenya SGR at the common border between the two East African countries involves for Uganda some 1,724 km of new track, to be built in a phased manner.
This includes the northern railway to connect Uganda by SGR rail to South Sudan as well as a southern spur to connect with Kigali in Rwanda. In the west the SGR will meet with the DRC border in two places.
There are no known plans for the development of a standard gauge railway within troubled DRC which is immersed in civil war in several places along its eastern border.
The first phase of this ambitious project involves building a SGR from the Kenya border at Malaba to the capital of Kampala, a short section of just 273 km. Uganda has applied to the EXIM bank of China for a loan to finance this phase.[/restrict]
News continues below
On 26 January The London Gazette reported that HM The Queen had approved the following awards for outstanding achievement and service to the United
Kingdom in the field of polar research.
Polar Medal
Antarctic to 2017
Captain Mark Grant Beasley
Antarctic Pilot and Training Captain, flying specialist aircraft in support of polar science.
Antarctic and Arctic to 2017
Dr Kevin Kerr
Polar Soil Biologist specialising in soil fungi and nutrient cycling.
James Michael Stewart Wake
Polar Expedition Leader and Base Commander.
Second Clasp
Arctic to 2017
Nicholas Levers Cox
Station Leader developing an international research community at Ny-Ålesund in the Arctic.
The medal
Inaugurated in 1904 to honour members of Captain Robert Falcon Scott’s first Antarctic expedition, the Polar Medal is awarded to…[restrict] individuals who have given outstanding achievement and service to the UK in the field of polar research.
Nominees for the award are selected by the Polar Medal Assessment Committee, who make recommendations to the monarch via the Secretary of State for Defence. Although the award is primarily given to UK nationals, there is provision to honour citizens of Commonwealth countries, should the appropriate representations be made.
The medal is struck in silver and bears an effigy of the monarch on the obverse. It has an unusual octagonal shape from a medal awarded in the 1850s for Arctic exploration. A clasp is placed on the ribbon of the medal in order to signify which region or regions in which the service was completed. Second and third clasps may be awarded on completion of further service. The ribbon is plain white.
In recent decades most awards have been made to scientists who over prolonged periods of time and in harsh conditions have worked to advance knowledge of the polar regions.
Recipients
Besides Captain Scott, distinguished recipients of the Polar Medal have included Sir Ernest Shackleton, who accompanied Scott during the 1902-4 expedition, and Sir Edmund Hillary and Sir Vivian Fuchs who led the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1957-8.
Today, its holders include the explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes whose late wife Virginia became the first of only three women to be awarded the medal.
Two early recipients went on to have parliamentary careers. Captain Robert Ryder RN (1908-86) was MP for Merton & Morden 1950-55 and Sir Martin Lindsay (1905-81) represented Solihull in 1945-64. Both men had been awarded the Polar Medal for their involvement in important Arctic and Antarctic expeditions during the 1930s.
Design
The obverse shows the monarch’s head.
Its reverse was designed by the sculptor and medallist Ernest Gillick, RA (1874-1951) and shows Scott’s ship Discovery in winter quarters, with a sledging party in the foreground. The ribbon is plain white[/restrict]
Paul Ridgway
London
News continues below
HAPAG-LLOYD ENHANCES ITS EUROPE-AUSTRALIA EXPRESS VIA REUNION SERVICE
German container line Hapag-Lloyd has announced service enhancements for its Europe Australia Express (EAX) – Service.
“In order to further improve the network of the Europe Australia Express (EAX) and to meet …[restrict] market requirements, following service enhancements have been launched.
“During the northbound voyage we will add a call at Algeciras (Spain) in addition to today’s port rotation. The first EAX vessel calling Algeciras will be MV Jazan 7148 nb / DP Voyage 208218 (eta 31 January 2018).
“Furthermore the port rotation at the North European Continent has been amended and effective MV Jazan 8006 sb/ DP Voyage 208183 (eta London Gateway February 5, 2018) the complete port rotation will be as follows:
“London – Rotterdam – Hamburg – Le Havre – Fos Sur Mer – Genoa – Damietta – La Reunion – Fremantle – Melbourne – Sydney – Adelaide – Singapore – Chennai – Colombo – Cochin – Damietta – Piraeus – Malta – Algeciras – London.”
Note: The Africa connection with this service between Europe and Australia and South East Asia is the port call at Reunion where trans-shipment cargo will be handled.[/restrict]
News continues below
Send your Press Releases here info@africaports.co.za and marked PRESS RELEASE. Provided they are considered appropriate to our readers we will either turn them into a story, or publish them here.
MAERSK IN JOINT DISCUSSIONS AT OPENING OCEANS CONFERENCE
Key figures from Maersk Group, Statoil and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development have signed up to discuss future ocean business opportunities, demands and strategies at Opening Oceans Conference 2018 (OOC).
The event, Nor-Shipping’s first outside its Norwegian home, will see c-level executives gather in Copenhagen on 2nd and 3rd May to examine how to responsibly realise the huge potential of the ocean, gaining the understanding, partners and tools to equip businesses for the way ahead.
High-level speakers and panellists for the new event include OECD’s Claire Jolly, Head, Innovation Policies for Space and Oceans (IPSO) Unit, Bjørn Otto Sverdrup, Senior VP, Corporate Sustainability, Statoil, and Vice CEO of Maersk Group, and CEO of Maersk Energy Division, Claus V. Hemmingsen.
It’s a line-up that, says Nor-Shipping’s Sofia Furstenberg, Strategic Lead OOC, offers diverse perspectives and unique insights into how major industrial players will aim to adapt models and build foundations for a new age of ocean business.
“OECD, led by the work of Claire, has identified that ocean value creation will double by 2030, so the opportunities for forward-thinking companies are immense,” she states.
“Statoil and Maersk are leading the way in adapting strategies to unlock sustainable success in this new arena, with the former transitioning to increased renewable energy activity, while the latter addresses one of the main themes of OOC this year, data value. Just this month Maersk announced a collaboration with IBM to utilise blockchain technology to speed up ocean trade and potentially save billions of dollars. This is the kind of innovative thinking that will unlock real value in the future.
“Through presentations, panel discussions and collaborative working spaces, high level delegates from a range of sectors – maritime, ocean, the energy sector, regulatory bodies, and more – will be able to really identify how they can address business potential and work together to compliment one another’s existing expertise and experience, and future ambitions. It’s such an exciting, important area to be focusing on and we know that all our attendees, from shipowners to technologists, will gain some unique and valuable perspectives.”
Alongside Jolly, Sverdrup and Hemmingsen, other confirmed speakers include high profile names such as Lasse Kristoffersen, CEO, Torvald Klaveness, Christopher Rex, Head of Research, Danish Ship Finance, Patrik Möller, CEO, CorPower, Sturla Henriksen, Special Advisor on Oceans to UN Global Compact, Steffen Knodt, Board Member, German Association for Marine Technology GMT / Hamburg, and Oliver Steeds, Founder of Nekton Oxford Deep Ocean Research Institute. Together they will address the four main OOC themes of logistics, data value, food, and energy and minerals, amongst other key ocean business issues.
“The prestige of the speakers that have confirmed so far clearly shows the demand and ambition for ocean business development,” concludes Furstenberg. “Nor-Shipping is evolving, just as maritime will, to build on its established position and access new opportunity. We want to help industries, and the next generation of business leaders, seize the potential that is out there. By gathering together – meeting, networking and building bridges – we can make the perfect start.”
Timed to coincide with Danish Maritime Days, Opening Oceans Conference is supported by both the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association and Danish Shipping. Further details of the programme for Opening Oceans Conference 2018, including information regarding speakers and the venue, will be released in the coming weeks.
Nor-Shipping 2019, which will also focus on increasing ocean business potential, takes place across a series of venues in Lillestrøm and Oslo, Norway, between 4-7 June 2019.
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.
Fred. Olsen’s handsome cruise ship BOUDICCA (28,551-gt)- which is in Durban today, several days earlier than originally scheduled after the lack of fresh water at Cape Town forced the line to cut short stopovers at the Mother City. Here we see the ship sailing from Durban earlier this month – the ship has completed a number of cruises along the South African coast during the present summer with multiple port calls, something that will be continued in future years. These pictures are by Keith Betts.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
“Well, in our country,” said Alice, still panting a little, “you’d generally get somewhere else—if you ran very fast for a long time, as we’ve been doing. “A slow sort of country!” said the Queen. “Now, here, you see, it takes all the running you can do, to keep in the same place…”
– Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass, And What Alice Found There
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
|
