TODAY’S BULLETIN OF MARITIME NEWS
Click on headline to go direct to story : use the BACK key to return
- First View : BW EGRET
- No need for shipping agents and terminal operators to have gone to court!
- Hapag-Lloyd expands into new East Africa Service (EAS)
- TNPA awards 2018 bursaries, congratulates matriculants
- Revamped international arbitration legislation enacted by parliament
- Canary Islands’ largest terminal opts for Navis N4 TOS
- Richards Bay Coal Terminal achieves record export throughput in 2017
- 24-hour port helicopter service returns to port of Durban
- Seafarer airlifted to hospital in Durban after suffering a stroke
- China looks to Arctic extension for new Silk Road
- Kingston Freeport expands its fleet of Konecranes Noell Straddle Carriers
- Expected Ship Arrivals and Ships in Port
- Cruise News and Naval Activities
- Pics of the Day : EEMSLIFT DAFNE
SEND NEWS REPORTS AND PRESS RELEASES TO
info@africaports.co.za
News continues below
BW Pacific Tankers’ product tanker, BW EGRET which sailed from Durban earlier in January. The 49,999-dwt tanker with an attractive green livery is part of a fleet of more than 50 tankers operated by BW Pacific, a company that dates back to the mid 1960s when it was then under the name World-Wide Shipping. After the purchase of a Norwegian tanker company the name was changed to Bergesen World-Wide in 2003 and rebranded to the BW Group a couple of years later. Since then the company has evolved into the divisions of BW Gas, BW Pacific, BW Offshore, BW Maritime, BW Fleet Management, BW Shipping and BW LPG. BW Offshore and BW LPG are public companies listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange. BW Egret was built in 2014 at the SPP Shipbuilding Goseong Shipyard in Donghae, South Korea. This picture is by Trevor Jones
News continues below
NO NEED FOR SHIPPING AGENTS AND TERMINAL OPERATORS TO HAVE GONE TO COURT!
Shortly after Nigeria’s Court of Appeal upheld the right of the Nigerian Shippers Council (NCS) to intervene in shipping charges and fees collected by shipping and terminal service providers at the Nigerian ports, the NCS said there was no reason for the matter to have gone to court.
This followed the court having dismissed the appeal from the Association of Shipping Line Agencies (ASLA) and the…[restrict] Seaport Terminal Operators’ Association of Nigeria (STOAN) against the NSC interventions.
Earlier the Federal High Court affirmed the regulatory authority of the NCS over agency charges. This matter has been contentious between NCS and ASLA and STOAN concerning the reduction of shipping line agency charges and refund of deposits collected by ASLA members.
Both organisations challenged the NSC over the reduction in progressive storage charges and increase in free storage days by STOAN members.
NCS Executive Secretary Hassan Bello suggested that stakeholders should find alternative methods of resolving disputes without turning to the courts.
However, it was within their rights to seek the court’s interpretation of the regulatory framework because this framework was somewhat hazy, he said. The environment must be conducive for all to operate, he added. source: Punch[/restrict]
News continues below
HAPAG-LLOYD EXPANDS INTO NEW EAST AFRICA SERVICE (EAS)
German container line Hapag-Lloyd has announced that it is expanding its operations by deploying four ships into its newly established East Africa Service (EAS) by way of a dedicated service linking its global mainliner service network with key ports in East Africa.
Commencing in April 2018, Hapag-Lloyd will be deploying four vessels into the new service. The EAS will connect…[restrict] Hapag-Lloyd’s global liner network to East Africa via Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) with weekly connections to and from Mombasa in Kenya and Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.
The port rotation will be as follows:
Jeddah – Mombasa – Dar es Salaam – Jeddah
At Jeddah, the EAS will connect to numerous Hapag-Lloyd mainliner services, offering competitive lead times to and from global markets.
Diamond Shipping Services
Simultaneously, Hapag-Lloyd will be establishing local representation in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda through Diamond Shipping Services Ltd. This will enable Hapag-Lloyd to provide a wide range of hinterland connections, such as Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, South Sudan, the DR Congo, Zambia and Malawi via the gateways of Mombasa and Dar es Salaam.[/restrict]
News continues below
TNPA AWARDS 2018 BURSARIES, CONGRATULATES MATRICULANTS
Four out of six learners who completed their matric studies as Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) bursary holders at the prestigious Lawhill Maritime Centre at Simon’s Town High School, achieved a total of 10 distinctions in the 2017 matric examinations.
In addition, a third of the 24 high schools TNPA has ‘adopted’ across the country achieved pass rates of 80% and above.
Most notable amongst these was Menzi High School in Umlazi, Durban, which clinched a 100% pass rate for the sixth year running.
At Lawhill the top achiever was TNPA bursary holder Lizwi Ncube of Durban, who achieved an A aggregate and six distinctions for Maritime Economics (90%), English First Additional Language, Mathematics, Physical Science, Life Orientation and Life Sciences. He narrowly missed achieving distinctions across the board, with 78% in both Nautical Science and IsiXhosa Home Language. Ncube intends pursuing Human Anatomy and Physiology at the University of Cape Town (UCT) in his post-matric studies from 2018.
Deputy Head Boy of Simon’s Town High School Siphelele Ncube, another Durbanite, clinched distinctions in Maritime Economics (88%), Life Orientation (96%) and English First Additional Language (87%). His maritime studies at Cape University of Technology (CPUT) will be sponsored by African Marine Solutions (AMSOL).
Head Girl Katlego Makgato of Nigel achieved a distinction in Life Orientation and was offered a learnership from the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC).
Please note these pictures were taken in 2015.
Of the remaining TNPA-sponsored matriculants at Lawhill, Sango Matyila of Khayelitsha will pursue post-matric maritime studies at CPUT aided by a Nedbank/SAMSA bursary, Lungisa Zondi of Underberg has applied for bursary funding to study at Sea Safety Training Group (SSTG) based in Cape Town and Anathi Qayiso of Durban is chasing a career in Information Technology.
New bursaries
TNPA has also revealed that in 2018 it will sponsor the tuition and boarding of four new learners at Lawhill, bringing to 81 the total number of learners whose studies it has sponsored there since 2006.
Two of the new recruits are Somila Dyan and Buhle Zondani, both of Khayelitsha. They previously attended Matthew Goniwe High School in Khayelitsha, which TNPA has supported for a number of years through its adopted schools corporate social investment programme.
The other two new bursaries for 2018-2020 are awarded to learners from Port St Johns in the Eastern Cape, where TNPA participated in the Department of Transport’s World Maritime Day 2017 in September. The successful learners are Afika Mvelakubi of Kokstad and Oyisa Langa of Mthatha.
TNPA’s successful, long-running partnership with Lawhill provides essential financial support for deserving but disadvantaged young people in their last three years of secondary schooling, equipping them with skills and knowledge to boost their prospects of post-school employment and career development.
In order to be considered for the Lawhill programme, applicants must achieve a minimum 60 percent in Mathematics, Natural Science and English in Grade 9. Students undergo an intensive interview procedure conducted by the institution.
Adopted Schools
The matric 2017 performance of TNPA’s 24 adopted schools was as follows:
Durban South Basin (15 TNPA-sponsored schools)
Menzi High – 100%
Isipingo Secondary – 92.2%
Merebank Secondary – 88.8%
PR Pather Secondary – 88.1%
Umlazi Commercial – 85.7%
Umbilo Secondary – 84.9%
Grosvenor Boys Secondary – 81.3%
Zwelibanzi High – 77.6%
Ndukwenhle Secondary – 70.5%
Lamontville High – 65.9%
Fairevale Secondary – 64.2%
Clairwood High – 58.1%
Reunion Secondary – 58.7%
Wentworth High – 57.1%
Umlazi Comtech – 51.1%
Richards Bay
Khombindlela High School (Empangeni) – 87%, with the top two achievers Siphiwokuhle Biyela and Sinqobile Msimango scoring 7 distinctions.
Siphosethu High School – 89%
Greater KZN
Emtshezi High School – 42%
Gauteng
Dr B.W. Vilakazi Secondary School – 72%
Forest High School – 65%
Saldanha
Louwville High (Vredenburg) – 65% – an improvement of 13% since 2016
Masiphathisane – TBC
Mossel Bay
Indwe High School – 64,7%
Hillcrest High School – TBC
TNPA’s bursary scheme and high school programmes support the human resources leg of Transnet’s Market Demand Strategy, which seeks to create and develop core skills that will drive performance and ensure that the State-Owned Enterprise (SOE) has adequate and skilled personnel to deliver on its strategic programmes in the ports.
News continues below
REVAMPED INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION LEGISLATION ENACTED BY PARLIAMENT
Parliament has enacted the long-awaited International Arbitration Act which brings about an overhaul of the international arbitration framework, which commenced on 20 December 2017.
The new Arbitration Act regulates international arbitration proceedings in South Africa and governs the enforcement of foreign arbitral awards. The Act, which incorporates the Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration, aligns the South African international arbitration law with international best practice. It also opens the door for South Africa to become a more attractive venue for resolving international disputes.
The Act not only ensures that the Model Law now applies in South Africa, but also the UNCITRAL conciliation rules, as well as the Convention on the recognition and enforcement of foreign arbitral awards.
The International Arbitration Act only reforms international arbitration, while domestic arbitration is still governed by the Arbitration Act, 1965 which remains in force.
By Patrick Bracher and Adriaan Louw
Norton Rose Fulbright
News continues below
CANARY ISLANDS’ LARGEST TERMINAL OPTS FOR NAVIS N4 TOS
Navis announced that Operaciones Portuarias Canarias, S.A. (OPCSA), the largest terminal in the Canary Islands, has chosen to implement the Navis N4 terminal operating system.
Transitioning from an outdated Cosmos TOS, the partnership with Navis marks the first step in OPCSA’s path towards modernising operations with the goal of achieving steady productivity, quicker vessel turnaround times and greater efficiency with re-stow movements.
Since beginning operations in 1986, OPCSA has become the largest terminal in the port of Las Palmas in the Canary Islands, as well as in the area from South of Spain to West Africa. OPCSA is a strategic enclave for traffic between Europe, Africa and South America, connecting directly with more than 74 ports around the world.
The terminal currently reports….[restrict] 800,000 TEU annually and an average of 25 moves per hour.
While the terminal’s customers benefit from OPCSA’s location, connecting lines on South-North routes with East-West routes, the previous system struggled to keep up with current operational needs, resulting in unproductive moves and ineffective re-stows that added both time and money to the shipping process.
To improve overall reliability and productivity, OPCSCA selected N4 and will utilize Navis Professional Services for the implementation and then Navis Training to get its team fully integrated with operating the new system for maximum efficiency.
“Our experienced staff is eager and enthusiastic to get to work using N4 and start to reap the benefits for our customers,” said Captain Jan Nowak, OPCSA’s CEO.
“We all fully expect to improve our current operations as far as reliability and productivity is concerned, but we’re also looking forward to providing our clients with new options that will simplify their work and make it more effective as well. Implementation of N4 is the first step in a much bigger and ambitious plan of modernisation of our terminal.”
Following the upgrade, OPCSA may also utilise several of Navis’ optimisation modules such as Autostow and Expert Decking to further build on its capabilities and compete with leading terminals around the world.
“Upgrading to a new TOS is a major transition and undertaking for terminal operators and their staff but as is the case with OPSCA, it is a necessary step to provide their customers with the most up-to-date software that ensures the smoothest process in and out of the port,” said Chuck Schneider, General Manager, EMEA.
“The Navis team will be available at all times to ease the transition and make sure that OPCSA doesn’t miss a beat in delivering the white glove service that its customers are used to.”[/restrict]
News continues below
RICHARDS BAY COAL TERMINAL ACHIEVES RECORD EXPORT THROUGHPUT IN 2017
The port of Richards Bay Coal Terminal revealed on Friday that it had handled a record 76.47 million tonnes of export coal during 2017, an increase on the 72.6 million tonnes handled the year previous.
This was achieved despite…[restrict] losing 38 days in 2017 due to weather which reached a point of causing a queue at the coal terminal at one stage, according to RBCT’s chairperson, Nosipho Siwisa-Damasane.
The bulk of the coal exports was to Asia, which took a share of 81.6% of all exports. This was an increase from 75% in 2016.
A little more than 10 years ago Europe took much of RBCT’s coal exports.
The terminal is targeting 77 million tonnes for 2018.[/restrict]
News continues below
24-HOUR PORT HELICOPTER SERVICE RETURNS TO PORT OF DURBAN
There’ll be sighs of relief across the port fraternity of Durban following the news from the Harbourmaster’s office that the port helicopter service at the port has been restored on a 24-hour basis.
Durban has been…[restrict] without the full-time services of a pilot helicopter for the best part of last year, following the unavailability of the Richards Bay port helicopter which was out of commission.
Transnet National Ports Authority decided to transfer the Durban aircraft to Richards Bay – we understood this was because of the longer distances to ships in the outer anchorage off the Zululand port compared to Durban. It was felt that if the helicopter was required for some emergency or other important reason it could return to Durban which is a relatively short distance away – about a hundred miles.
Ship’s agents and brokers complained to Africa PORTS & SHIPS that this was an unfair practice as they were paying for a helicopter service at Durban regardless of whether the slower pilot boat was used or the faster aircraft, although the latter was seldom available.[/restrict]
News continues below
SEAFARER AIRLIFTED TO HOSPITAL IN DURBAN AFTER SUFFERING A STROKE
SAAF Oryx helicopter at sea aboard High Speed Vessel Swift (HSV 2) — A South African Air Force Oryx medium transport helicopter touches down aboard High Speed Vessel Swift (HSV 2) during joint exercises conducted as part of the West African Training Cruise 2004 (WATC 04). South African pilots landed and launched from Swift several times during the day-long transit from Simon’s Town to Capetown. WATC is held regularly to enhance security cooperation between the U.S. and participating nations. U.S. Navy photo by Senior Chief Journalist Scott A. Fleming. (RELEASED)
The National Sea Rescue Institute (NRSI) duty crew and NSRI ASR (Airborne Sea Rescue) at Durban was called to duty yesterday (Tuesday) along with the SA Air Force (SAAF) 15 Squadron and Netcare 911 rescue paramedics to rendezvous with the ship MV LAKE D which was 50 nautical miles off-shore of Durban.
A 47-year old…[restrict] Filipino seafarer on the ship needed to be evacuated ashore after suffering a stroke (CVA).
Clifford Ireland, the Durban NSRI station commander reported that the call-out took place at 06h00 on Tuesday, 30 January. He said the Airborne Sea Rescue team had been alerted the day before and the ship was due to be closer to Durban by early morning on Tuesday.
“The rescue operation conducted by a SAAF 15 Squadron Oryx helicopter rendezvoused with the ship 50 nautical miles off-shore of Durban. NSRI rescue swimmers and Netcare 911 rescue paramedics were hoisted aboard the ship and the patient, in a serious but stable condition, was hoisted into the helicopter and he has been airlifted to hospital in Durban.”
The seafarer’s condition is not known.[/restrict]
News continues below
CHINA LOOKS TO ARCTIC EXTENSION FOR NEW SILK ROAD
China says in a White Paper China that a route through Arctic waters should be developed as another extension of the One Belt One Road project, making it a polar Silk Road to Europe.
The paper says the polar route is becoming more and more feasible as a result of global warming and that it intends encouraging enterprises to develop the necessary infrastructure and to undertake trial…[restrict] commercial voyages to pave the way for the trade route.
“China hopes to work with all parties to build a ‘Polar Silk Road’ through developing the Arctic shipping routes,” the paper stated. The white paper was issued by the State Council Information Office.
Giving a briefing at the presentation of the white paper, ice-Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou said there were misgivings by some people over China’s involvement in developing a polar extension of the Belt and Road project, saying there were worries that China might have other intentions, or that China might plunder resources and bring damage to the environment.
“I believe these kinds of concerns are absolutely unnecessary,” he said.
The paper said that China was also aware of the development of oil, gas, mineral resources and other non-fossil energies, fishing and tourism in the region, which it would exploit jointly with Arctic States, “while respecting traditions and cultures of the Arctic residents including the indigenous peoples and conserving natural environment.”
In 2016 CHina sent five ships along the polar route to demonstrated that a journey across the great eastern passage can shave off nearly 20 days from the trip between China and Northern Europe. China’s state-own shipping company COSCO has already sent several commercial vessels through the polar waters to test the feasibility of the northern route.[/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.
Kingston Freeport expands its fleet of Konecranes Noell Straddle Carriers
In December 2017, Kingston Freeport Terminal Ltd. ordered eight Konecranes Noell Straddle Carriers to strengthen its container handling operation at Kingston Container Terminal in Kingston, Jamaica.
Kingston Harbour is one of the widest and deepest natural harbours in the world, and Kingston Container Terminal is well-positioned to exploit its natural advantages as a transshipment hub for the benefit of Jamaica and the entire Northern Caribbean.
Kingston Freeport already operates 25 Konecranes Noell Straddle Carriers, mainly of the N SC 644 E type. These are diesel-electric straddle carriers that stack containers 1-over-3. They are very eco-efficient and manoeuvrable machines, with a built-in growth path to automated operation.
The eight new Konecranes Noell Straddle Carriers will be delivered in July 2018, bringing Kingston Freeport’s Konecranes Noell straddle carrier fleet to 33 machines.
Kingston Freeport uses the Konecranes Noell Fleet Management System (FMS) with its straddle carriers. The Konecranes Noell FMS, developed in-house, enables the customer to monitor the condition of its Konecranes Noell Straddle Carriers at any time during operation.
Peter Kania, Sales Director, Straddle Carriers, Konecranes, said: “We have a long-standing relationship with CMA CGM group and Kingston Freeport and I’m very pleased they decided to purchase more of our straddle carriers as part of their long-term improvement program.”
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.
PICS OF THE DAY : EEMSLIFT DAFNE
The heavylift-type general cargo vessel EEMSLIFT DAFNE (IMO 9671448) sailed from Durban harbour recently after a brief call. She was bound for Luanda in Angola and had called in Durban for bunkers. Equipped with a pair of heavylift cranes, the 112-metre long, 17m wide ship can also be utilised for container carrying (261 TEUs) or project type cargo. The 4,200-dwt ship was built in 2014 and is owned by Dutch interests and managed and operated by Amasus Support BV of Farmsum, Netherlands. Until January last year the ship was formerly named Abis Dunkerque. Amasus Support BV is not a highly visible firm, least of all in southern African waters, nevertheless the company manages a fleet of 77 vessels. 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 |
| A comprehensive Directory of Maritime Services is being developed organically on this site. i.e. companies will be listed only if requested. 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 |
