
TODAY’S BULLETIN OF MARITIME NEWS
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- First View : BOUNDARY
- Grindrod’s bell rings on Nasdaq with a follow-up ring on the JSE today
- South Africa a hub for marine aids to navigation training
- South Africa a Hub for Marine Aids to Navigation Training
- Cargo Owners face huge potential liability claims if their cargo causes damage
- Iconic Maputo Bay Catembe bridge delayed-no date set
- Fifth Meraviglia-class cruise ship ordered by MSC Cruises
- Lloyd’s Maritime Academy Diploma for Harbour Masters
- DNV GL issues first type approval for aluminium cables onboard ships
- Expected Ship Arrivals and Ships in Port
- Cruise News and Naval Activities
- Pics of the Day : PLEIADES SPIRIT
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Ocean Africa Container Lines (OACL), a division of the Grindrod Group, operates with a small fleet of coastal feeders plying trade between the South African, Namibian and Mozambican ports. Over the years the ships have changed as charters come to an end and new ones commence, but one thing that has remained constant are most of the names of the ships deployed on this service. BOUNDARY (IMO 9126998) is one such example having been the name carried on a number of different Grindrod/Unicorn ships over the preceding years. The current Boundary, 14,576-dwt and 157.12 metres long by 23.5m wide, was built in 1996 and is flagged in Antigua Barbuda. The ship is owned by German interests and managed by Jebsen Shipping Partners Management. This picture is by Trevor Jones
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GRINDROD’S BELL RINGS ON NASDAQ WITH A FOLLOW-UP RING ON THE JSE TODAY

At 09h30 EST in New York City yesterday, the bell on the Nasdaq trading floor rang signifying the first day of trade for Grindrod Shipping Holdings. Meanwhile, the seven-storey Nasdaq Tower in Times Square lit up with the Grindrod Shipping logo, while displaying Grindrod Shipping’s vessels.
There are only a few South African companies that have achieved a primary listing on an offshore stock exchange with an inward listing on the JSE. For Grindrod Limited, the separation and listing of its Shipping division on an offshore stock exchange was contemplated for many years.
According to Grindrod, the separate listing will enable shareholders to…[restrict] better understand and evaluate Grindrod Limited’s Freight and Financial Services divisions and better evaluate the separate Shipping business, which will now be listed alongside its peers in an improving commodity cycle.
Grindrod Shipping holds the shipping business spun out of Grindrod Limited, a company listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (ticker JSE: GND). Following the listing, Grindrod Shipping is now an independent, publicly traded company with separate public ownership.
“This is a wonderful achievement for Grindrod and will be noted in Grindrod’s 108-year history as among the most memorable,” said Mike Hankinson, executive chairman, Grindrod limited.
Martyn Wade, Chief Executive Officer of Grindrod Shipping, commented “Grindrod has been involved in various segments of the shipping and transport industry for more than 100 years. As a separate and independent entity, Grindrod Shipping will be able to pursue a growth strategy focusing only on the shipping business to maintain and enhance our position as a successful owner and operator of drybulk carrier and tanker vessels. New York has been the destination of choice for the majority of global shipping companies and we are pleased to join the NASDAQ platform as we position the company for the next phase of its development.”
Grindrod Shipping Holdings, based in Singapore, has listed on the Nasdaq under the ticker GRIN. As this is not a capital raise, the trade in the share was expected to be subdued initially, as all current shareholders will look to increased value in the months ahead.
All Grindrod Limited shareholders will receive 1 share in Grindrod Shipping Holdings for every 40 shares held in Grindrod Limited and will be able to trade these shares on the JSE today (19 June 2018) under the ticker GSH in the industrial transportation sector.
The Grindrod Limited share price has adjusted accordingly. The NAV on listing is $320 million which equates to a theoretical value of approximately $16.8 per share.
The two underlying businesses, namely Island View Shipping and Unicorn Shipping are highly regarded in the shipping industry. Their modern, fuel-efficient fleet of 49 vessels (including two new buildings under construction), both dry-bulk vessels and tankers, are manned by dedicated and loyal seafarers who complement the skilled and experienced shoreside staff which has enabled Grindrod Shipping to out-perform major shipping indices in the past.[/restrict]
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SOUTH AFRICA A HUB FOR MARINE AIDS TO NAVIGATION TRAINING

South Africa a hub for marine aids to navigation training
South Africa is emerging as a hub of training in marine aids to navigation (AtoNs) for other developing countries keen to establish their maritime transport sector as a safe, secure and environmentally sound pillar of socio-economic growth.
This was clear from an address by David Gordon, Executive Manager: Lighthouse and Navigational Systems (LNS) of Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) at the Pre-Conference Forum of the 19th IALA Conference in Incheon, Republic of Korea on 26 May.
IALA is the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities and is the only international body concerned with the provision of AtoNs at sea and on inland waterways. The Pre-Conference Forum was jointly hosted by the independently funded training and capacity building tool of IALA, the IALA World-Wide Academy (WWA), in partnership with the Korean Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.
Gordon, who previously served as IALA President from 2010 to 2014, addressed the forum on the topic of the South African experience of providing AtoN Management training.
“South Africa is recognised as the centre of excellence in Africa with regard to AtoNs. It is therefore important that South Africa leads the way in ensuring that the African continent on the whole is led by competent individuals and organisations in order to achieve compliance with international legislation,” he said.
In 2018 Gordon spearheaded Transnet’s successful hosting of two IALA training events in Cape Town – the first IALA Risk Management Seminar on the African continent in the English language, hosted from 26 February to 2 March 2018, and the first IALA Level 1 Aids to Navigation (AtoN) Manager training, held from 5 to 29 March 2018.
“The courses were developed by IALA and presented all over the world in English, French and Spanish. The course has also been adapted through a collaborative process with the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) and the Transport Education and Training Authority (TETA) in order to align it with the National Qualifications Framework,” said Gordon.
IALA Risk Management Seminar

The seminar was targeted at those involved in the design, marking and management of waterways. It provided an international and regional overview of risk management within the port environment, and stressed the importance of stakeholder liaison, the value of the IALA Risk Management Tools (software) and national administrations in waterway planning.
The training, which included theoretical and practical components, was delivered by world renowned experts including: Omar Frits Eriksson, Dean of the IALA World-Wide Academy (WWA), Gerardine Delanoye, Programme Manager of the IALA WWA; Captain Roger Barker of Trinity House, Captain Tunçay Çehreli, Chair of the IALA VTS Committee, Professor Knud Benedict, Chairman of the International Navigation Simulator Lecturers Conference and Per Christian Engberg, chief architect of the IWRAP Mk2 risk assessment tool.
The 27 participants included 23 TNPA employees within the portfolio of the Chief Harbour Master and four international delegates from the International Harbour Masters Association, Namibian Ports Authority, the General Directorate of Maritime Affairs in Guatemala and Madagascar’s Maritime and Fluvial Port Agency.
All the participants completed the seminar and were presented with certificates of completion.
Eleven participants continued with the IALA Level 1 Aids to Navigation (AtoN) Manager training.
IALA Level 1 Aids to Navigation (AtoN) Manager Training
This training targeted those who fulfil the role of Aids to Navigation Managers in the Competent Authorities of Coastal States or their Aids to Navigation service providers. The four-module course aimed to enable participants to gain an internationally recognised Aids to Navigation Certificate as a basic AtoN Manager, with competencies including technical functions of visual, radio and audible AtoN, Vessel Traffic Services, AtoN provision, design and management, and maintenance, contracts, environmental matters and human resource issues.
The theoretical training was delivered by Francis Zachariae, Secretary-General of IALA, Gerardine Delanoye, Programme Manager of the IALA WWA and TNPA-endorsed experts.
The course included technical tours to TNPA’s VTS Centre, the historical Green Point Lighthouse, South African Navy Hydrographic Office (SANHO), STC-Southern Africa, the SAMSA Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), South African Maritime Training Academy (SAMTRA) and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.
A total of 13 participants attended from South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia and Madagascar. Sivayogan Moodley from TNPA LNS was one of only two delegates who received a First Class Pass or a minimum average of 75% across all modules. Captain Naresh Sewnath, TNPA Acting Chief Harbour Master, presented the certificates at the closing ceremony on 29 March 2018.
Gordon said TNPA is provisionally booked to host the Level 1.1 AtoN Manager training in Cape Town from 25 March to 18 April 2019. He is also optimistic that TNPA and South Africa will be able to offer the Level 2 Technician training in future and also provide VTS training to the wider region.

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NEWS IN BRIEF FROM MAXIXE, FLNGs AT CAMEROON & CONAKRY
MOZAMBIQUE


Following last year’s cyclone storm damage to the jetty at Maxixe in the Mozambique province of Inhambane, repairs and rehabilitation have been completed with financial support from Japan amounting to approximately US$605,000 (36 million meticais). The jetty handles up to 3,000 commuters each day travelling on about 30 boats between the towns of Maxixe and nearby Inhambane.
The repaired jetty was visited last week by President Nyusi on his working visit to Inhambane province during which it was…[restrict] officially reopened. See report in Africa PORTS & SHIPS of 21 February 2017 Cyclone Dineo leaves path of destruction across central Mozambique
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CAMEROON

Cameroon has signed contracts for a second floating LNG plant with a Chinese builder, for delivery in 2023.
Another floating LNG unit to be operated in Limbé by 2023. The project involves the development of a 2,300 km2 gas field offshore of Cameroon which has been signed with the Jersey-based New Age (African Global Energy Ltd). Construction of the FLNG is to commence in China in 2019, taking four years to be made operational. It is estimated this will enable New Age and its partners to produce 30,000 barrels of condensate daily, 1.3 million metric tons of LNG as well as domestic gas.
Cameroon was the second country in the world to operate a floating LNG vessel which so far has helped produce almost 100,000 tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG), of which 40,000 tonnes was exported to China. The FLNG Hilli Episeyo has a yearly production capacity estimated at 1.2 million tons of natural gas. source: Business In Cameroon
CONAKRY, GUINEA

The Port of Conakry Terminal, a subsidiary of Bolloré Ports, received last week (12 June 2018), four new container rubber tyre gantry (RTGs) cranes at the Port Autonome de Conakry container Terminal. This new equipment will improve the terminal productivity by strengthening its current capabilities and will also increase its reliability to better secure handling operations.
In seven years Bolloré Ports has invested close to 129 million euros in modernising and equipping the container terminal. Through its investments, Bolloré Ports plans to make Conakry a more efficient, modern and attractive port. “The reception of these four gantries marks a new stage for Conakry Terminal. Their commissioning will boost all port activities and will constitute a great lever of productivity at the service of Guinean economic development,” said Tahirou Barry, CEO of Conakry Terminal.[/restrict]
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CARGO OWNERS FACE HUGE POTENTIAL LIABILITY CLAIMS IF THEIR CARGO CAUSES DAMAGE
Cargo liability insurance has become a topical issue recently following several large fires on board vessels where the fires were caused by cargo carried on board. Cargo insurance is not automatically sold with marine third party liability cover, and perhaps it should be.
Almost all marine cargo is insured under the Institute Cargo Clauses A, B, or C. The ICC clauses cover certain specified risks or perils including loss of or damage to the insured cargo reasonably attributable to fire or explosion. This would include, for example, the cargo fires on board the containerships such as the mv Maersk Londrina and the mv APL Austria, or the cargo lost and damaged in the explosion in the Port of Tianjin in 2015.
The ICC clauses only cover loss of or damage to the insured cargo itself and do not cover the cargo owner’s liability to third parties other than the cargo owner’s liability for salvage charges and general average. They do not cover any liability of the cargo owner to a third party caused by the insured cargo. Such damage or loss could be in the form of damages caused to the vessel carrying the cargo, other vessels, port facilities or other cargo being carried on board the vessel or stored in a port.
As it stands, there is a gap in the market for cargo liability insurance which covers a cargo owner’s liability to third parties.
There may be a number for reasons for this. The costs of such insurance may be uneconomical because of the potentially huge claims that may arise as a result of, for example, a fire on board a vessel. The premium on marine cargo is generally quite low because the insurer knows that its exposure, should something go wrong, is generally limited to the value of the cargo and possibly some salvage and general average contributions.
If a policy was to cover the liability of the cargo owner to third parties, then the potential claims which may arise may be enormous relative to the fairly small value of the insured cargo. Given the high exposure, it is likely that an insurer would either charge a very high premium or they would only insure the cargo owner’s liability up to a certain level. This would leave the cargo owner exposed to claims for the balance of the loss or damage caused by his cargo.
Where a cargo owner misdeclares the nature of the cargo, this can pose a serious risk to the lives of crew as well as to cargo carried on board a vessel. Such a misdeclaration can also result in the cargo owner not being indemnified for the loss of or damage to his own cargo by his insurer (who may justifiably avoid the claim under the policy) as well as the cargo owner being exposed to third party claims from the ship owner or other cargo owners to whom his cargo has caused loss or damage. Similarly, any cargo liability insurance product would also not cover any liabilities that may arise when a cargo owner misdeclares the nature of the cargo and the misdeclaration causes loss or damage to a third party.
It is accordingly imperative that a cargo owner properly and accurately declares the nature of the cargo, both from a safety and an insurance perspective.
Cargo owners need to be aware that they face potentially massive claims if their cargo causes damage or loss to third parties. This loss or damage is not covered under normal marine cargo insurance which only covers loss or damage to the insured cargo. Cargo owners may be wise to take out marine liability insurance but this may be expensive or the extent of the liability cover may be extremely limited.
Marine insurers who are contemplating offering cargo liability insurance need to carefully assess the risk that they are looking to insure to ensure that they limit the extent of their exposure or charge an adequate premium.
Carol Holness
Senior Associate
Norton Rose Fulbright
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ICONIC MAPUTO BAY CATEMBE BRIDGE DELAYED – NO DATE SET

It was scheduled for this month, but the grand opening of Maputo’s magnificent new Maputo-KaTembe bridge has been delayed and will not meet the previously announced deadline.
While not certain, it appears that the contractors have been unable to complete the bridge on time owing to difficulties with relocating vendors of the Malanga market.
Mozambique’s Council of Ministers were informed of the delay during the current 19th session. Spokesman for the Council, Armido Ngunga said a new date for the official inauguration has not yet been decided.
The new bridge will bring access to the people living on the other side of the harbour who…[restrict] until now were faced with a very long drive or alternately forced to make use of one of the ferries.
The bridge will also go on to provide access to improved roadworks extending south from the capital to the border of KwaZulu Natal in South Africa, shortening the road to Durban and more importantly, opening up the region between Maputo and the border at Ponto do Ouro.
The bridge at 680 metres in length and at 60 metres above the waters of Maputo harbour will clear all shipping passing beneath. The bridge is being claimed as the longest suspension bridge in Africa.
Costing US$725 million and being funded by China’s Exim Bank of China and the Mozambique Government, the project is under the direction of the state-owned Empresa de Desenvolvimento de Maputo Sul (EDMS), which has as its brief the development of a number of key infrastructure projects in and around the capital.
China Roads and Bridges Corporation (CRBC) has been the main contractor. Design work, evaluation, construction supervision and quality control of the project for the bridge is the responsibility of the German consultancy firm Gauff Engineering and Cowi is the project’s technical advisor.[/restrict]
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MSC Cruises and STX France last week signed an order for the construction of a fifth Meraviglia class cruise ship. Due to be delivered in 2023, this vessel will be equipped with a new generation of dual-fuel engines designed to run on liquefied natural gas (LNG).
The new ship will also feature other innovative environmental technologies, notably including an advanced wastewater treatment system compliant with the world’s most stringent regulatory standards, including the provisions enshrined in Resolution MEPC.227 for the Baltic Sea.
This announcement was made at a unique ceremony held at…[restrict] the Saint-Nazaire shipyard in France involving three major ship building milestones between MSC Cruises and STX France.
One was the Steel Cutting Ceremony of the 4th Meraviglia class vessel to be named MSC VIRTUOSA. The second involved the Coin Ceremony for MSC GRANDIOSA; and the third was the Float-out of MSC BELLISIMA.
For the first time in Saint-Nazaire’s history, three cruise ships belonging to a single cruise brand are under simultaneous construction at the shipyard.
Speaking before opening the valves to flood the dry dock where MSC Bellissima has been assembled, Pierfrancesco Vago, MSC Cruises’ Executive Chairman, said: “With the announcement of yet another new vessel, the 13th under our 10-year investment plan, we are affirming our commitment to sustainable growth for our Company. I say this while three more next-generation MSC Cruises are now simultaneously under construction.”
Mr Vago said that the fifth Meraviglia class cruise ship will bring a new generation of cutting-edge environmental technology to the market, benefiting from a new generation of LNG-powered engines.
“This will help us further reduce our environmental footprint and advance in our journey of constant improvement. She will be joined at sea by up to four World Class LNG-powered ships, as part of our overall commitment to environmental stewardship through this and other next-generation technologies and solutions deployed fleet-wide,” he said.
The agreement for the additional Meraviglia-Plus ship represents an additional investment of €900 million (US$1.06 billion).
MSC Bellissima will be christened at a ceremony in Southampton on 2 March 2019 while MSC Grandiosa will be christened in Hamburg in November 2019.[/restrict]
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Developed in partnership with the International Harbour Masters’ Association
The harbour masters position is one normally filled by those returning from a seafaring career, however there is a need for knowledge on legislation, risk management, navigational management, security, marine operations and management skills – all addressed by this course.
A Harbour Master is a person who, whatever may be their local title, holds a managerial position in marine operations and exercises this role at a place. Jurisdiction is exercised over the water frontage or water area of a port or port approach and a legal and / or operational responsibility for the movement of shipping may be involved.
In undertaking their role they possess an authority conferred on them by law, regulations or rules. There is significant involvement in ensuring that port or marine operations within the area of their jurisdiction are carried out safely. The course provides the underpinning knowledge to enable the present, future and aspiring harbour masters to meet these challenges for the future.
Lloyd’s Maritime Academy is offering a second opportunity this year for students to join its Diploma for Harbour Masters, starting on 13 November 2018.
This leading development training programme is recognised as a foremost qualification for port managers and is used by many governments, port companies and terminal operators as part of their own internal training programmes.
After twelve months of flexible studying successful students will master:
* How to effectively manage marine operations, understanding legislation, commercial practices, incident investigation and enforcement.
* The secrets of efficient harbour staff management.
* Finance and asset management.
* Marine environmental management, and more.
A twelve page introductory brochure to the Diploma for Harbour Masters is to be found here:
CLICK HERE
Several organisations in Africa have benefited from the programme in the past.
Edited by Paul Ridgway
London
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DNV GL ISSUES FIRST TYPE APPROVAL FOR ALUMINIUM CABLES ONBOARD SHIPS

As the competitive and economic pressure on the shipping and offshore industries continues to grow, owners, operators and yards are searching for every efficiency. To support its customers, DNV GL has developed the first type approval scheme for the use of aluminium cables and connectors onboard vessels.
“This type approval represents another first for the DNV GL rule set and demonstrates our commitment to moving classification forward to help our customers,” says Geir Dugstad, Senior Vice President, Director of Ship Classification & Technical Director at DNV GL – Maritime. “Electrification is playing an increasingly important role in ship propulsion and this new type approval can help to reduce costs and improve sustainability.”
DNV GL’s new type approvals for aluminium cables and connectors allow expensive copper to be replaced with aluminium. The cost savings can be significant – with the price of aluminium in 2018, approximately one third that of copper.
“Traditionally, power cables for marine use have been made with copper,” explains Ivar Bull, DNV GL – Maritime. “Copper is an ideal electrical conductor of course, but the price of copper has been rising sharply over the last several decades – putting increasing cost pressures on the maritime industry. At the same time, electric propulsion is becoming more widespread in shipping, which will increase the demand and importance of finding more economical power cables.”

Aluminium’s lower conductivity means that a thicker cable is required, but this is compensated for by an overall lower weight. For example, a typical offshore support vessel may have 60 tons of copper cables installed. If these were replaced with aluminium, the weight would fall to 30 tons. But even with the price of special high quality terminations factored in, the overall estimated saving from switching to aluminium from copper is 50 per cent. Lighter cables also result in easier installation for the ship builder and lower material transport costs. Finally, a vessel with aluminium rather than copper cables, is lighter and more fuel efficient – resulting in lower operational costs.
The use of aluminium cables has been tested for the past three years in a pilot installation onboard the Bibby Offshore owned, Olympic offshore managed, OLYMPIC ARTEMIS, a multi-purpose offshore support vessel. The cables have been used to supply power to one of the vessel’s thrusters.
Recently, DNV GL experts, together with representatives from the cable manufacturer Amo Specialkabel AB, checked the aluminium cables onboard Olympic Artemis with a thermographic camera. Urban Sandberg, Technical manager at Amokabel, said: “Amo Specialkabel’s ambition is to be innovative and market leading when it comes to environmental and technical solutions for the marine market.”
The survey confirmed perfect connections after more than 11,000 operating hours and DNV GL was then able to issue the type approvals.
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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.
PIC OF THE DAY : PLEIADES SPIRIT

The 60,330-gt car carrier PLEIADES SPIRIT (IMO 9409326) arrived in Durban earlier in June. Built in 2008 at the Shin Kurushima Toyohashi Shipbuilding yard in Toyohashi, Japan the vessel is managed by the Nissan Motor Car Carrier company in Japan. The ship’s owners are also Japanese. About the only things non-Japanese with this 200-metre long, 32m wide vessel is the flag of registry which is for Panama, and of course the name. The car carrier has a standard capacity of 5,200 vehicles. Pictures are by Keith Betts
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
“Promise me you’ll always remember: You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”
– Winnie the Pooh
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