TODAY’S BULLETIN OF MARITIME NEWS
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- First View : MSC HINA
- Strike action today to hit Durban Container Terminal
- Mozambique’s CFM to invest US$200m in ports and rail over next three years
- Fire destroys two commercial fishing boats at Beira, another at Bali
- US$98 million boost for Richards Bay Coal Terminal
- Pirate activity offshore Nigeria
- Poorest countries face growing burden from cost of importing food
- Sailor from US destroyer USS Jason Dunham dies in Red Sea exercise
- CMA CGM pulls out of Iran service due to US sanctions
- Expected Ship Arrivals and Ships in Port
- Cruise News and Naval Activities
- Pics of the Day : SA AGULHAS II
- The port in the masthead today is of Port Harcourt, Nigeria
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Ships like this are becoming much less common in the port of Durban, having been overtaken by much larger container ships and making it hard to believe how quickly container shipping has evolved from the time when a 2500 TEU ship could be labelled ‘big’ as in the case of the Safmarine ‘Big Whites’. At that time a feeder or coastal container ship would carry up to 800 TEU and often much less and the ship in our focus today, MSC HINA (IMO 9062984) would have been deployed to one of the major trade lanes. MSC Hina seen here sailing from Durban earlier in July, is the second vessel to have carried this name in the Mediterranean Shipping Company fleet. The current bearer, deadweight 30,328 tons has a length of 187 metres and a width of 30m and a container capacity of 2,074 TEU. She operates between Durban and the Mozambique coast. This picture is by Keith Betts
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STRIKE ACTION TODAY TO HIT DURBAN CONTAINER TERMINAL
Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has confirmed reports that we first published on 4 July advising that the non-recognised Revolutionary Transport Union of South Africa (RETUSA) was calling for a strike to take place today through to Friday. See that report by CLICKING HERE
According to a communique issued by TNPA on Tuesday (10 July), RETUSA has given notice to Transnet of its intention to embark on a national strike as from today.
“We anticipate that this strike action may impact our operating divisions,” said Durban’s acting port manager, Nokuzola Nkowane. She said that the main impact was expected at the Durban Container Terminal and Bayhead precinct.
The activity being undertaken by RETUSA today involves a march from Ambrose Park along Bayhead Road up to the intersection of Bayhead and Langeberg Roads. The scheduled time is from 09h00 to 13h30.
On Thursday (tomorrow) the union will picket at Ambrose Park with no official movement beyond this location. The scheduled time is between 08h00 and 13h30.
On Friday 13 July the union will target the Eel Road corner with South Coast Road en route to Transnet Engineering at the cornr4 of Solomon Mahlangu Drive (Edwin Swales VC Drive). The scheduled time on this day is from 09h00 to 13h30.
Transnet says that the various operating divisions have invoked their relevant business continuity plans in order to minimise the impact of this strike action.
RETUSA’s reasons for calling this action are set out in our report of last Wednesday, 4 July. See link above.
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MOZAMBIQUE’S CFM TO INVEST US$200m IN PORTS & RAIL OVER NEXT THREE YEARS
Mozambique’s Ports and Railways company (CFM) reached 120 years last Sunday and the occasion was celebrated in Maputo on Monday this week.
The President of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi was guest of honour and was joined by a number of government members, current leaders and former managers of the company as well as thousands of workers.
President Filipe Nyusi said that…[restrict] CFM had achieved profits estimated at just over US$45 million for 2017 and had paid more than US$90 million in taxes and dividends to the state, thus earning the award of one of the largest taxpayers in Mozambique as confirmed by the Tax Authority (AT).
The Head of State said this was a demonstration of good governance with accounts kept up to date.
It was revealed that the Mozambique Ports & Railways company has assets worth more than US$1 billion, and according to its current Strategic Plan, CFM is set to invest more than US$200 million for modernisation over the next three years. Source: O País[/restrict]
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FIRE DESTROYS TWO COMMERCIAL FISHING BOATS AT BEIRA, ANOTHER AT BALI
A fire destroyed two fishing boats anchored at Beira port in the early hours of Saturday morning (7 July 2018), reports O País.
The National Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC) is not yet sure what caused the fire, but assume that…[restrict] it may have been a case of arson.
Laurindo Felício, a security guard on duty at the port on the day of the incident, said he was surprised to see the smoke but could not figure out how the fire started.
According to a report by Lusa News Agency, the fire broke out just after midnight.
The Governor of Sofala Province in Central Mozambique has demanded results from the investigation of the fire which completely destroyed two industrial fishing vessels that were moored at the harbour.
“It is necessary for the Sernic to make serious investigative work and present the results. We need determined efforts to find out what really happened,” said Maria Helena Taipo, speaking yesterday during a visit to the scene of the incident. Source: O País / Lusa
Fire destroys 39 boats in Bali
Further afield, up to 39 fishing boats were burned in a huge fire west of Benoa Port in Denpasar, Bali, on Monday 9 July, reports GAC Hot Port News.
Quoting local reports, GAC said that the blaze started at about 02h00 hours local time. At least 22 fire trucks, three ambulances and several heavy equipment vehicles were deployed in response. The fire-fighting operation was still underway and estimated to be 50-60% complete at the time of reporting.
So far, there are no reports of casualties and the extent of the damage/loss is yet to be calculated.
Activities at the Cruise Terminal east of the Port of Benoa are unaffected by the fire. source: GAC[/restrict]
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US$98 MILLION BOOST FOR RICHARDS BAY COAL TERMINAL
The Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) has completed a R1.34 Billion (US$98 Million) machinery upgrade including new stacker reclaimers and shiploaders.
According to a report in Bulk Materials International, the move is…[restrict] expected to boost productivity and improve vessel turnaround times, and RBCT reiterated its expectation of achieving a record throughput in excess of 77 Mt this year.
Africa’s largest coal export terminal began the project to replace its ageing equipment in order to maintain its 91 Mtpa capacity, but the company said that the project has also meant an increase in its efficiency levels.
Two new rail-mounted stacker reclaimers have been installed, each with a capacity to handle 6,000 tph, compared to 4,500 tph for the predecessor machines.
The reclaimer coal-carrying arm is also extended from 40m to 60m, meaning less bulldozing is required in the yard. The new shiploader will have 10,000 tph capacity, compared with 8,000 tph for the previous equipment.
The project also reconfigured the terminal’s five existing electrical substations and added a new substation. Source: Bulk Materials International[/restrict]
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PIRATE ACTIVITY OFFSHORE NIGERIA
Piracy has reared its head once again offshore of Nigeria with a potential attack on a support tug.
The failed attack took place in position 01:49.9N – 003:12.1 E, which is around 220 nautical miles south west of Bayelsa, Nigeria. The time was 19h20 local time.
The first warning came when the duty officer onboard the tug noticed…[restrict] a nearby fishing boat lowering a long skiff into the water.
The skiff with four to five people onboard started approaching the tug and closed to a distance of half a mile. At this stage the tug’s Master raised the alarm, increased speed and headed into the swell.
Several attempts were made by the skiff to get closer to the tug, but failed due to the rough weather. After following the tug for over five hours the skiff moved away.
There has been a lull in reported pirate activity lately. This incident took place last week on 3 July.[/restrict]
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POOREST COUNTRIES GACE GROWING BURDEN FROM COST OF IMPORTING FOOD
FAO’s Food Outlook offers detailed look at market trends ranging from guava to ethanol
Food imports are placing an increasing burden on the world’s poorest countries, a new FAO (Food and Agricultural Organization) report says.
The world food import bill has broadly tripled since 2000 to reach $1.43 trillion in 2017, while it has risen around fivefold for countries that are the most vulnerable to food shortages. This shows a trend that has “been deteriorating over time, portending an increasing challenge, especially for the poorest countries, to meet their basic food needs from international markets,” said Adam Prakash, a FAO economist and author of the study in the Food Outlook released yesterday.
The global food import bill is likely to rise by around 3 percent to about $1.47 trillion this year. The annual increase mostly reflects greater international trade in fish – a high-value food mostly imported by developed countries – and cereals, a staple…[restrict] that is an essential import for many Low-Income Food Deficit Countries (LIFDCs).
This year FAO took a longer-term view of that trend and found that countries may indeed be “paying more for less food,” even though global production and trading conditions have been quite benign in recent years.
The analysis focuses on both the trend and the composition – animal proteins, fruits and vegetables, cereals, beverages, oilseeds and coffee, tea and spices – of food import bills over time. Food imports have risen at an annual global average rate of 8 percent since 2000, but that pace has been in the double-digits for the vast majority of the poorest countries. In a “stark contrast”, the share of cereals compared to higher-value foods in the import basket has not declined in poorer countries, while it has declined considerably in wealthier ones.
The food import bill now accounts for 28 percent of all merchandise export earnings for the group of least-developed countries (LDCs), nearly double the share of 2005. Developed nations not only have larger GDP per capita, but also they typically only spend around 10 percent of their export earnings on food imports.
Exotic fruits move from niche to mainstream
The Food Outlook, published twice a year, also devotes a special chapter on the growing trade in minor tropical fruits such as guava and lychees, building on previous work that focused on their more prominent rivals such as mangoes and papayas.
The global output value of these minor tropical fruits – 86 percent of which are produced in Asia – was around USD $20 billion last year, according to the analysis and detailed assessments of these niche products by Sabine Altendorf.
While these minor fruits are mostly consumed locally, and often contribute substantially to smallholder incomes and micronutrient needs, growing recognition of their contribution to a healthy diet is catalysing a higher international profile, especially amid strong worldwide urbanization trends and growing health awareness.
Guava is the largest fruit in this category, along with jackfruit, longan, lychee, durian, rambutan and passion fruit, mostly grown in Brazil, and mangosteen.
Only around 10 percent of production is currently traded across borders, mostly within Asia – with Thailand a major exporter – but robust wholesale prices in the markets of developed countries point to ample commercial potential for exporters in low-income countries. Galvanizing that opportunity will take innovation in handling perishability, assurance of supply, price volatility and compliance with phytosanitary certification requirements.
The big picture
The Food Outlook primarily reviews market trends for the world’s major food commodities, including cereals, fish, meat, dairy, sugar and vegetable oils.
While food markets have remained relatively stable thanks to generally good supply conditions across most categories, they remain vulnerable in light of recent rising trade disputes and the potential for weather and other shocks.
Detailed assessments for the main food groups are offered. Of special interest are the complex trends in the oilcrops sector, where international prices of oilseeds and oilmeals are rising even as those of vegetable oils are falling. Evolving trade relations between the United States of America and China – the world’s largest soybean producer and buyer, respectively – have introduced considerable uncertainty into the market, as evidenced by a recent plunge in world soybean and soymeal prices.
In the cereals sector, 2018/19 trade is expected to remain robust, supported by continued strong import demand for nearly all major cereals. Other highlights include expectations of “elevated” and even record prices for seafood products in the second half of 2018 amid tight supply trends; expanding trade for dairy products, especially milk powders; and a robust expansion of meat production amid decelerating growth in trade volumes.
World sugar production, meanwhile, is forecast to rise 11.1 percent this year, reaching a record level of 187.6 million tonnes and exceeding global consumption by a large margin. Despite the largest sugar surplus in recorded history, a price floor for international sugar prices will likely be set by the upturn in world crude oil prices, as more sugar is used to make ethanol. source: FAO[/restrict]
The Bi-annual report can be downloaded by CLICKING HERE
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A US Navy sailor on board the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) died from injuries sustained while conducting small boat operations on Sunday 8 July 2018.
The tragedy occurred while the destroyer was on deployment in the Red Sea.
According to U.S. 5th Fleet Public Affairs, the sailor was medically evacuated to a hospital in Aqaba, Jordan, and was pronounced dead at 12:45 p.m., local time.
The sailor has since been identified as Ensign Sarah Mitchell, 23, of Feasterville, Pennsylvania.
The Navy said it is investigating the circumstances of the death. In accordance with Department of Defense policy, the identity of the sailor was released 24 hours following notification of family members.
Dunham is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central region, connecting the Mediterranean and the Pacific through the western Indian Ocean and three strategic choke points. source: US Navy
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The re-introduction of US sanctions against Iran has seen the withdrawal of its services to that country by French shipping group, CMA CGM.
“Our Chinese competitors are hesitating a bit, so they may have different relationships with the Trump administration but we apply the rules,” said CMA CGM chief executive Rodolphe Saade.
According to Radio Free Europe, Saade said…[restrict] during an economic conference in Aix-en-Provence in southern France that his company’s cooperation agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines allowing it to lease spaces for vessels, operate joint shipping lines and cooperate on the use of port terminals had also been suspended.
This was after Iranian President Hassan Rohani had called on European Union leaders to do more to offset US actions to protect his country’s economy.
“The Europeans always show their goodwill [in the nuclear dispute], but in the end, pragmatic decisions and steps are necessary,” Mr Rohani told his cabinet after he met with EU leaders in Vienna.
However, the implications of disregarding the US sanctions and its effect on their business with the world’s leading economy, is enough for most international companies to ‘toe the line’ and re-introduce their own sanctions of being seen to doing business with Iran.[/restrict]
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GENERAL NEWS REPORTS – UPDATED THROUGH THE DAY
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EXPECTED SHIP ARRIVALS and SHIPS IN PORT
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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.
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CRUISE NEWS AND NAVAL ACTIVITIES
QM2 in Cape Town. Picture by Ian Shiffman
We publish news about the cruise industry here in the general news section.
Naval News
Similarly you can read our regular Naval News reports and stories here in the general news section.
PICS OF THE DAY : SA AGULHAS II
Can one get tired of looking at photographs of this ship? No apologies here for showing her again, as the ship returns to Durban from her latest research expedition into East African and Mozambique Channel waters involving training and capacity building for the Indian Ocean Expedition II (IIOE2). SA AGULHAS II was built at the STX Rauma shipyard in Finland for the South African Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) and launched in July 2011 ahead of completion and handing over the following year. Since then she has made several supply trips to the South African Antarctic Base and to the Marion island group and other remote islands in the Southern Ocean, as well as a number of journeys of exploration in the Indian Ocean, with the recently completed voyage being the latest. The 12,897-gt ship has a length of 134 metres and a beam of 21.7m and is classified as Polar Class 5. The ship features onboard laboratories for scientific research as well as cargo holds and tanks for supplies for the South African polar research stations. Hangars and a flight deck on the stern can handle two Atlas Oryx helicopters and she has accommodation for up to 100 passengers in 46 cabins and carries a crew of 45. The ship is registered in Cape Town. These pictures of her returning from East Africa earlier in July are by Trevor Jones
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
“When you act on your beliefs, the realisation that happens is caused by you and this will in turn lead to a consequence.”
― Stephen Richards
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