
TODAY’S BULLETIN OF MARITIME NEWS
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- First View : JIN WANG LING
- PMAWCA Secretary-General takes over as Director-General of Ghana Ports
- Evergreen Strengthens Asia – East Africa Service
- Open day at sea in Comoros for SA Agulhas II
- Peterside cautions of the effect of China’s Silk Road initiative on Africa
- EU NAVFOR welcome for publication of BMP5
- Operation Junction Rain: Maritime Law Enforcement
- MARIOTTI DAMEN Cruise created as Seabourn signs letter of intent for two expedition ships
- The biggest solar park in The Netherlands, North Sea Port
- Expected Ship Arrivals and Ships in Port
- Cruise News and Naval Activities
- Pics of the Day : MSC BRANKA
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COSCO Shipping’s bulk carrier JIN WAN LING (IMO 9487108) enters Durban port late in June. The 31,775-dwt handysize bulker is 177.5 metres in length and 28.1m in width and was built in 2010. The ship, which is registered in Hong Kong, is more accurately described as a log carrier, for that is what she was designed as, along with three identical sister ships named JIN GUANG LING, JIN YUAN LING and JIN XING LING. COSCO Shipping runs a fleet of 13 log carriers in all. This picture is by Keith Betts
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PMAWCA SECRETARY GENERAL TAKES OVER AS DIRECTOR GENERAL OF GHANA PORTS

by Lanre Badmus, Ghana
The Secretary General of the Ports Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA), Mr Michael Achagwe Luguje, has officially assumed office as Director General of the Ghana Ports and Habours Authority (GPHA). His appointment took effect yesterday (2 July 2018).
Luguje’s appointment was approved in June by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, following his decision to sack the erstwhile Director General Mr Paul Asare. The Director of Tema Ports, Mr Edward Kofi Osei, was directed to act in the capacity while Luguje “clears” his desk at the PMAWCA Secretariat in Lagos, Nigeria.
See related report ABRUPT DISMISSAL OF GHANA PORTS & HARBOURS AUTHORITY DIRECTOR-GENERAL PAUL ASARE ANSAH dated 11 June 2018.
An accomplished bilingual port management specialist, who has served at very senior levels at international port and maritime institutions, Luguje’s managerial skills will no doubt help GPHA to reposition Ghana as the preferred hub of maritime commerce in West Africa, in line with President’s Akufo-Addo’s vision.
Luguje has garnered extensive cognate experience in the ports sector of West and Central Africa; as a reforms and change expert with remarkable achievements in team building, employee motivation, and strict adherence to service quality and productivity.
Luguje joined GPHA in 1999 after serving as a National Youth Intern with the organization the previous year. During his early days, he distinguished himself as a disciplined pacesetter and rose to become Special Assistant to the Director General of GPHA about five years after joining the organization.
He secured his first high profile international position in 2007 as the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Regional Coordinator for West and Central Africa.
After five years with the IMO, he was elected as Secretary General of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA) in 2012. PMAWCA is a sub-regional intergovernmental economic organization, made up of 23 Regular Member Ports and nine Associate Members including landlocked countries and maritime organizations, all located along the Western Atlantic Coast of the African continent, stretching from Mauritania to Angola.
While on his tour of duty at PMAWCA, he also served as Executive Secretary of the Pan African Association of Port Cooperation (PAPC), the continental body for the three regional port associations, from 2012 to 2017.
Luguje holds an Executive MBA in Project and Strategic Management from the Paris Graduate School of Management and Master of Science in Maritime Affairs (Port Management Specialization) from the World Maritime University (WMU), Malmo – Sweden. He is also a Graduate of French and Linguistics, University of Ghana (Legon). He has attended numerous professional training seminars and workshops on port reforms, human resource management, performance indicators, concessions management and project management.
As Secretary General of PMAWCA, Luguje engendered greater vibrancy and prudency in the affairs of the Association. In 2017, he mobilized member ports from the region to support the candidacy of Ms Hadiza Bala Usman, Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority, who became the first to be elected Vice President (Africa Region) of the International Association of Ports and Habours (IAPH), under its new constitution.
President of PMAWCA and Chairman of Cape Verde’s Port Administration, Mr Jorge Pimenta Mauricio, in a communication to the chief executives of all regular and associate Member Ports wrote: “As you will all agree with me, PMAWCA must be proud and grateful to the President of the Republic of Ghana and his Government for this appointment which is not only in recognition of Mr Micheal Luguje’s professional competence as an individual, but also an endorsement of PMAWCA as a beacon of rich skills and competence in port management from which our Governments can obtain the best experts to serve at the highest level in all key areas of the port, logistics and maritime transport sector.
“Over the last six years of his stewardship as Secretary General, PMAWCA can attest to Mr Luguje’s professional competence, team spirit and dedication to producing good results, which has repositioned the Association among the best sub-regional port organizations in Africa and beyond. We therefore have no doubt that he would be successful in his new role as Director General of the GPHA.
“On behalf of the Board of Directors, Council and members of the Association, I extend our congratulations to Mr Luguje on his appointment and wish him best success in this new role of higher responsibility.”
Although his notice of resignation has been formally received, the Association’s President has requested Luguje to maintain general supervision over the work of the PMAWCA Secretariat for the month of July so that the 39th PMAWCA Council Meeting which will hold in Accra at the end of July could take a decision on modalities to elect a new Secretary General.
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EVERGREEN STRENGTHENS ITS ASIA- EAST AFRICA SERVICE

Evergreen Line has announced enhancements to its current Asia – East Africa service (AEF) which is adding to its direct calls in Central & Southern China.
The enhancements are to meet increasing and diverse market demands, the line said in a statement.
Five vessels are currently deployed on the AEF service – three operated by Evergreen Line, the remaining two by COSCO and X-Press Feeders. To accommodate the extended service to China, Evergreen Line and COSCO will each provide one more vessel.
This brings to a total of seven dedicated ships with an average capacity of 4,200 TEU that are utilised with a service rotation of seven weeks.
In addition to the current AEF calls in Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya, the extended…[restrict] weekly service will provide a direct connection between three Chinese ports and Kenya.
The jointly operated service will commence with a sailing from Shanghai on 5 July 2018.
The port rotation is:
Shanghai – Ningbo – Shekou – Singapore – Tanjung Pelepas – Port Klang (West Port) – Colombo – Mombasa – Colombo – Port Klang (West Port) – Tanjung Pelepas – Singapore – Shanghai.
The economic development of the East African region in recent years has been one of consistent growth. As a major trading partner, Chinese investment plays an important role in this growth and in particular has led infrastructure construction, a significant driver of increased import cargoes to the area.
Evergreen says that the AEF service extension therefore is an appropriate reaction to customer demands within the China – East Africa trade.[/restrict]
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OPEN DAY AT SEA IN COMOROS FOR SA AGULHAS II

The Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) in partnership with the South African Embassy in Comoros hosted an open day aboard its research and polar vessel the SA AGULHAS II, on Monday (yesterday).
“The exposure that the scientists of the Comoros have had in the past few days on this vessel, as well as the visit by the young students, is a way by South Africa to say to the people of Comoros, especially its children that we care about your future and the development of your country,” said Ambassador of the Comoros, Mbulelo Bungane.
Visitors enjoyed guided tours of the vessel, from its state-of-the-art science laboratories to…[restrict] the lounge area which is dedicated to the late South African music icon Miriam Makeba.
Guests also had an opportunity to engage and learn about South Africa’s second training and capacity building voyage for the Second International Indian Ocean Expedition II (IIOE2).
The IIOE2 is a multi-national programme of the United Nations Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) which emphasises the need to research the Indian Ocean and its influence on the climate and its marine ecosystem.
The IOC recognised that there was a persistent lack of basic long-term environmental information in the Indian Ocean, particularly for developing countries surrounding the Indian Ocean.
On-board were the Department of Environmental Affairs research staff and trainee-participants from Tanzania, Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Congo, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
“South Africa is inviting the Comoros through its scientists and the schools for a partnership that will be mutually beneficial to our countries and peoples.
“Let the scientific work and demonstrations that have started on this vessel be a foundation for future cooperation in the areas of marine science, biodiversity, and conversation of the ocean environment. Indeed in the whole Ocean Economy sector, and turn this potential into an engine for growth and development,” Bungane said. – SAnews.gov.za[/restrict]
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PETERSIDE CAUTIONS ON THE EFFECT OF CHINA’S SILK ROAD INITIATIVE ON AFRICA

Unless Africa adopts strategic decision making policies, the continent will fail to fully optimise the gains of China’s Silk Road ‘One Road One Belt’ initiative, says Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) head, Dr. Dakuku Peterside.
One of the objectives of China’s maritime Silk Road initiative, he pointed out, is to develop international shipping connectivity across South East Asia, Africa, Oceania, and the Indian Ocean.
This, said Peterside in a report carried by Nigeria’s Maritime First newspaper, will open new…[restrict] opportunities for Africa in terms of economic partnerships.
Peterside, who was speaking at the Crans Montana forum in Brussels, called on Africans to fully protect their continental interest. While the maritime Silk Road comes with lots of benefits for the continent, it also brings certain risks inherent in the initiative.
“Whereas China is pursuing new transportation linkages throughout the Eurasia region and Africa to boost trade and enhance her economic status, Africa must key in to develop her port infrastructure, maritime asset financing and create jobs for her people,” he said.
Peterside listed potential threats such as the likelihood of ports being taken over by the Chinese to the detriment of Africans, and noting that the maritime Silk Road initiative will create openings for African markets to be flooded with Chinese goods.
In addition, as a result of the China driven initiative, Chinese policy may also affect port calls and hub decisions. Peterside warned that the oil tanker and gas markets will be affected by the construction of new pipelines that will connect Africa to China which will engender Chinese political dominance in Africa if not carefully managed.
Nevertheless the NIMASA DG advocated support for the China led maritime Silk Road initiative but charged Africa to be aware of the risks and to ensure Africa’s economic interests are fully protected. source: Maritime First[/restrict]
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EU NAVFOR WELCOME FOR PUBLICATION OF BMP5
EU NAVFOR, the combined naval force operating in the region of the Horn of Africa, says it welcomes the announcement of the publication of BMP5 (Best Management Practices 5).
“In addition we welcome the launch of Global Counter Piracy Guidance. These documents have and will continue to contribute to the security and safety of merchant shipping transiting the High Risk Areas off the Horn of Africa.”
BMP5 continues to strongly encourage shipping operators to…[restrict] register their transits with EU NAVFOR MSCHOA (Maritime Security Centre Horn of Africa) and to follow the self-protection advice contained within BMP5.
BMP5 and and Global Counter Piracy Guidance documents are now available on the following websites; http://eunavfor.eu/media-room/ and http://www.mschoa.org.
It can also be found on a new industry website http://www.maritimeglobalsecurity.org, which provides a one-stop shop for companies and mariners seeking guidance on a wide range of Maritime Security Issues.
Somali piracy has not been eradicated and remains a threat. As well as piracy, regional instability and conflict have resulted in the deliberate targeting of ships by extremist groups using weapons such as anti-ship missiles, sea mines and Water-Borne Improvised Explosive Devices (WBIED).
Warships and aircraft of EU NAVFOR Somalia’s Operation Atalanta continue to patrol the region, providing a permanent presence to deter, prevent and repress piracy and other maritime security threats and the protect World Food Programme (WFP) and other vulnerable shipping off the Horn of African and the Coast of Somalia.[/restrict]
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The US, Cabo Verde, and Senegal completed combined operations during Operation Junction Rain, a part of African Maritime Law Enforcement Partnership (AMLEP), in Dakar, Senegal, on 28 June 2018.
AMLEP paired a US Coast Guard law enforcement detachment (LEDET) with partner nation maritime forces and interagency personnel to execute combined law enforcement operations. It was reported that the US boarding teams operated from partner nation vessels to identify suspect vessels or escort vessels that have been cited for illicit and criminal activities.
In the words of Commodore Matthew Lehman, Commodore, Destroyer Squadron 60 and Task Force 65: “This part…[restrict] of Operation Junction Rain was a great success. We worked seamlessly with our Senegalese and Cabo Verdean partners while supporting their efforts to patrol their maritime domains against illicit traffickers and illegal fishing.”
In total, combined boarding teams performed 40 boardings, of mostly fishing vessels, and the Senegalese Navy issued two fishing violations for a total of $75,000.
Reported by Paul Ridgway
London

[/restrict]
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T. Mariotti, the leading Italian luxury cruise shipbuilding company, and Damen Shipyards Group have announced the creation of a new partnership to build cruise vessels.
T. Mariotti, which will celebrate its 90th anniversary this year, has a long-standing reputation within the cruise industry. Damen, which celebrated its 90th anniversary in 2017, operates in a wide range of sectors across the maritime industry and has recently announced its intention to move into the cruise market.
The partnership between the two companies will be…[restrict] a complementary fusion of expertise and facilities that will focus on the construction of cruise vessels.
A statement from both companies said the partnership will operate under a new common brand, MARIOTTI DAMEN Cruise. As the two companies made their announcement, ultra-luxury cruise line Seabourn made public the signature of a letter of intent for two ultra-luxury expedition vessels with the newly-formed partnership.
“We are very pleased to work together with Damen on the construction of newbuild cruise vessels as both Mariotti and Damen share a common vision of the future of the cruise industry,” said Marco Ghiglione, T. Mariotti’s Managing Director. “This long-term partnership will offer our current and prospective clients access to a comprehensive suite of shipbuilding services and capabilities in terms of high quality, sustainable vessels demanded by the cruise industry of tomorrow.”
Damen Senior Vice President Sales & Marketing Cruise Andrea Trevisan said the combination of T. Mariotti luxury cruise shipbuilding’s long-standing experience combined with the high-class facilities of Damen Shipyards Group represents a unique synergy in the cruise industry. “Our partnership brings together two proud family businesses, both of which enjoy a reputation for shipbuilding excellence,” he said.
The expedition vessels will have an innovative design, created specifically for the ultra-luxury expedition traveller, and will include many features that have made Seabourn ships so successful as well as a host of new features to enhance the expedition experience.
The 170-metre ships will add new capacity for Seabourn in Antarctica, the Arctic and other exotic destinations around the world while meeting Polar Class 6 standards. Each will feature 132 luxurious veranda suites for up to 264 passengers.
“This is a ground-breaking moment for Seabourn and for luxury travellers, who will now find a new standard of authentic yet luxurious expedition adventures in new and amazing destinations few people will ever see,” said Richard Meadows, president of Seabourn.
As vessels built exclusively for expedition travel, the ships will offer amenities designed to deliver unparalleled guest experiences in some of the most remote areas in the world. A new offering will be two submarines carried onboard, providing unforgettable views of the world beneath the ocean’s surface. The ships will also be designed to carry a complement of kayaks and 24 Zodiac inflatable boats, which have operated as a part of the highly successful Ventures by Seabourn program offered in select destinations around the world.
Seabourn will announce design and service details for the new ships beginning later this year. The first 23,000-gt ship is currently planned for delivery in June 2021, and the second in May 2022.[/restrict]
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In May this year works were commenced for the Solarpark Scaldia on the edge of the Sloehaven in the Vlissingen port area of North Sea Port. As the main land owner, North Sea Port supported the development of the renewable energy project.
Good for 14,000 households
Having a capacity of 54.5 MWp, the solar park will have an average production of 51,000 MWh per year, it is understood. This can be compared to the consumption of more than 14,000 households. During its 30 years’ life it will save more than 738,000 tons of CO2 emissions. This was reported on 29 June. On completion Solarpark Scaldia will then be the biggest installation of its type in The Netherlands.
Around the Sloehaven in Vlissingen
This solar park will be built next to a number of wind turbines and under a high-voltage line, in a cable and pipeline corridor. Total surface area is 38 hectares (94 acres) around the Sloehaven. 140,000 solar panels will be erected in an east-west direction in order to optimize land use, the production profile and, as a consequence, cost-effectiveness.
Network manager Enduris started in February 2018 with the construction of the network connection. EPC contractor and owner, ib vogt GmbH*, started the construction of the plant in May. ib vogt, located in Germany, was advised by the Dutch Solarfields, and HSH Nordbank recently completed its financing.
Completion of the project will enable The Netherlands in its transition towards renewable energy and in obtaining its goal of 37% sustainable energy sources in electricity consumption by 2020.
The solar park will be commissioned after the summer, it is understood.
Edited by Paul Ridgway
London
*see here for recent installations: https://www.ibvogt.com/home.html
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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.

On 15 May this year we featured a picture of MSC BRANKA (IMO 9720495) in Table Bay as she sailed from Cape Town. Today we show her arriving in Durban on her next rotation for an appointment at the Durban Container Terminal. Built in 2016 at the Shanghai Jiangnan Changxin Shipbuilding Co at Shanghai in China as hull number H3005, the 110,527-dwt MSC Branka is 300 metres in length and 48m wide and can carry up to 9,400 TEU fully loaded. These pictures are by Trevor Jones
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― Susan Cain
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