Africa PORTS & SHIPS Maritime News

Bringing you shipping, freight, trade and transport related news of interest for Africa since 2002
Bringing you shipping, freight, trade and transport related news of interest for Africa since 2002

TODAY’S BULLETIN OF MARITIME NEWS

Click on headline to go direct to story : use the BACK key to return

 

SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE

– Have a one month’s trial to a Premium Suscription for

Africa PORTS & SHIPS

After 30 days and with no obligation, provided you are satisfied, take out a subscription for 6 or 12 months to the maritime portal offering news and information of sub-Saharan Africa’s maritime, shipping and port related activities. Stay informed by reading Africa PORTS & SHIPS

A subscription costs as little as R41 per month (approx. US$3.10*, based on a six or 12 month subscription.  email terry.africaports.co.za and write FREE TRIAL in the subject line.

  • subject to exchange rate fluctuations

SEND NEWS REPORTS AND PRESS RELEASES TO
info@africaports.co.za

News continues below

FIRST VIEW: PRINCESS JOHANNA

Princess Johanna in Durban, featured in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news

Princess Johanna in Durban, featured in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news. Pictures: Keith Betts
Princess Johanna.     Pictures: Keith Betts

Two monohull all-aluminium crew boats arrived in Durban on Monday seeking shelter and repairs following a harrowing crossing of the Indian Ocean and voyage down the Mozambique Channel. The little ships are heading for Nigeria where they are to commence operations as crew boats servicing the offshore oil industry in the Gulf of Guinea. See the next story for more details. These pictures are by Keith Betts

 

News continues below

DIFFICULT DELIVERY VOYAGE FOR TWO NIGERIA-BOUND OFFSHORE SUPPLY VESSELS

Princess Jennifer at Durban, featured in Africa PORS & SHIPS maritime news
Princess Jennifer arriving in Durban.         Picture: Keith Betts

Princess Jennifer and Princess Johanna forced into Durban for repairs

Two offshore support vessels, PRINCESS JENNIFER (IMO 9764295) and PRINCESS JOHANNA (IMO 9764283) have sought refuge in Durban for shelter and repairs following a difficult voyage from Singapore.

During the crossing of the Indian Ocean, which commenced when they left Singapore on 29 June, the two 45-metre long, 7.6m wide all-aluminium monohull vessels ran into heavy weather with strong seas and waves that reached over 10 metres and “coming from all sides”.

Eventually they reached Mombasa in Kenya on 14 July ahead of the journey down the Mozambique Channel but on Sunday night, 29-30 July, more bad weather was encountered preceded by a strong south-westerly ‘buster’ that blew along the KwaZulu-Natal coast. This was described as just as bad if not worse than the storms in mid-ocean with the little ships being buffeted by waves from all directions.

During the voyage a number of cracks appeared in several sections of the ships’ hulls, which are now being attended to in the calm and safe waters alongside Southern African Shipyards quay at Bayhead. These repairs could take a number of days before the two ships can depart for the journey along the KZN and Wild Coasts before turning west just past Port Elizabeth and the crossing of the Cape of Good Hope and the long journey up the West Coast culminating in Nigeria.

Princess Jennifer was originally named PELICAN PROGRESS and was launched in 2015 and owned by Pelican Offshore Malaysian Corp. Princess Johanna’s original name was PELICAN PRIDE and was also launched in 2015. Both vessels have a gross weight of 260 tons and a draught of 1.8 metres.

The Penguin Shipyard from whence they emerged describes the class of vessels as Flex Fighter crew boats. Fitted with an all-round wheelhouse ballistic protection (windows and panels), seating for large number of passengers, a 110-sq metre cargo deck and an external firefighting monitor, they perform the duties of crew boat and if necessary multi-role security boat.

Engine power comes in the form of three Caterpillar C32 main engines providing for a speed of up to 28 knots and a fuel capacity of 93,000 litres to provide long endurance.

Princess Jennifer. Picture by Keith Betts, featured in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news
Princess Jennifer.      Picture by Keith Betts

 

News continues below

EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY (EAC) ENGAGES DUTCH CONSULTANCY MTBS TO ASSESS REGIONAL PORTS

Lake steamer at Kisumu on Lake Victoria, featured in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news
Lake steamer at Kisumu on Lake Victoria

A Rotterdam-based Maritime and Transport Business Solutions (MTBS) has commenced consultancy services involving a study on mapping the East African Community (EAC) regional ports with complementary transport infrastructure to facilitate trade.

The EAC is an intergovernmental organisation of six member states comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. The EAC aims at developing a…[restrict] multi-modally integrated regional transport network to facilitate and encourage intra-regional trade.

MTBS was selected by the Macroeconomic and Financial Management Institute of Eastern and Southern Africa (MEFMI) to provide consultancy services to support the East African Community in establishing a regional policy guideline for the development of port projects within the EAC region.

The regional ports included in the scope are Mombasa, Lamu (greenfield), Dar Es Salaam, Mtwara, Bujumbura, Kisumu, Rubavu, Rusizi, Juba, Kigoma, Mwanza, Mbamba Bay, Port Bell and Bukasa (greenfield).

MTBS will identify port development projects for the short, medium and long-term and will perform an Economic Cost Benefit Analysis to prioritise projects that must be developed in the short-term.

According to the Kenya Ports Authority MTBS will carry out the project together with the Nairobi firm of together with Runji and Partners.

The end result of the project is to develop a master plan that will facilitate the development of the ports “taking due cognizance of the long term development framework as outlined under Vision 2030. This report contains port development plans for eight out of the eleven assessed potential port sites.”

It will be noted that not all the ports are on the sea coast but include those on the lakes of the respective countries.

The KPA says that the small coastal ports such as Funzi, Shimoni and Vanga located in the south coast, Mtwapa, Kilifi, Malindi, Lamu and Kiunga further north, will all be assessed as will potential new sites for ports on the coast.

Two potential port sites, which do not fall under the KPA Act, have been identified. These are Takaungu and Ngomeni.

Ngomeni has good natural harbour conditions, while Takaungu forms part of a large site that falls under the jurisdiction of the KPA.

At Lamu on the north coast of Kenya a new port at Manda Bay capable of handling deepwater vessels is already under construction. This is being built in conjunction with the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia-Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor project, also known as Lamu corridor that will when complete be the country’s second transport corridor. The new port at Manda Bay, Lamu is designed for a maximum of 32 berths.

Shimoni port in Kwale is situated off Wasini Island on the south coast of Kenya and is small and has limited connectivity or potential from its hinterland. It currently handles about 10,000 tonnes of cargo annually and is by far the largest of all small coastal ports engage in any form of coastal trade.

However, the KPA is working in collaboration with the county government of Kwale to develop Shimoni into a fishing and tourist port, with connections to Pemba Island and Zanzibar. sources: MTBS, KPA, Business Daily[/restrict]

 

News continues below

NACALA CORRIDOR-FUNDING A VITAL LINK ACROSS 912 kms

RMB basnner, appearing in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news

Railway infrastructure is key to the growth of any economy – all the more, if you are exporting coal across international trade waters, says a statement issued yesterday by RMB.

Thanks to the revamped and extended Nacala Logistics Corridor, the Moatize coal mine in the northwest Tete region of Mozambique can now export greater volumes of the commodity to global customers. This landmark infrastructure deal was made possible by a consortium of three ECAs, an African development bank and a lending consortium of six international and four South African banks.

RMB, acted as Mandated Lead Arranger and funded US$113-million under…[restrict] the ECIC supported tranche.

“RMB is no newcomer to structuring and funding Export Credit Agency (ECA) backed projects. Our ECA team has strong relationships with the ECIC (Export Credit Insurance Corporation of SA Limited SOC) and international ECAs – covering the import and export of capital goods and services to and from sub-Saharan Africa,” says Inal Henry, Head of Export Financing at RMB who was involved in the transaction.

RMB is a go-to ECA Bank in sub-Saharan Africa and has funded some landmark ECA transactions including the €705-m boiler financing for Eskom’s Kusile power station (backed by Euler Hermes of Germany) and the ZAR945-m Comair aircraft financing (backed by US Exim).

Inal Henry, Head of Export Financing at RMB, featured in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news
Inal Henry, Head of Export Financing at RMB

Multiple members

“It was quite extraordinary to be a part of a successful collaboration between diverse parties (the governments of Mozambique and Malawi; international sponsors Vale and Mitsui; the consortium of international and South African banks, the ECAs and the African Development Bank (ADB)) across diverse funding structures,” says Henry.

“The complex nature of the project required that there was cohesion and collaboration between the legal, financial, political, environmental, regulatory and compliance aspects of the project. RMB was mandated under the US$400-m ECIC supported tranche and advanced funding together with Absa Bank Limited, Investec and the Standard Bank of South Africa. The South African banks took great comfort in having the South African government represented through its official Export Credit Agency (the ECIC) in the financing. The ECIC brought great insight to the transaction and underpinned the South African lending tranche, while the ADB advanced US$300-m,” says Henry.

The Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) direct funded an additional US$1.03-bn, while a consortium of Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation; The Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd; Mizuho Bank Limited; Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank Ltd; Nippon Life Insurance Company and Standard Chartered Bank funded US$1-bn (insured by Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI)). JBIC and Nexi are the Japanese ECAs.

Altogether senior debt of US$2.73-bn was raised for the US$5.15-bn project (this excludes the Moatize mine development costs which were funded by the sponsors).

“By structuring ECA backed tranches, we are able to deliver more competitive financing terms to our clients through longer tenors and at competitive interest rates. The Nacala project finance facility will be repaid in 14 years,” adds Henry.

Mining drives rail plans

The Nacala Logistics Corridor project was initiated in 2012 by Brazilian mining conglomerate Vale and Mozambique’s state port and railway operator CFM, with support from Mitsui of Japan, who is also a shareholder in the Moatize coal mine and the Nacala Logistics Corridor.

The Corridor is a 912km railway which will transport coal from the Moatize coal mine to the port of Nacala, where a new deep-sea coal export terminal, capable of loading large freighters in record time, has also been built.

The existing railway lines in Mozambique were rehabilitated, while a new heavy haul railway across the southern part of Malawi was constructed. The new line will see 60 wagon trains transporting coal to the port, from where it will be exported to Europe and Asia. According to Vale, coal production at the Moatize mine has risen from 3.7 million tons in 2012 (the first year of operation) to 11.3 million tons in 2017. The opening of the new rail link will allow this to increase 18 million tons per year and will reduce the transportation costs from mine to port.

On the right track

In addition to creating a secure dependable logistics corridor for the Moatize mine, the project has delivered significant benefits to the region, such as enabling a new freight and passenger corridor in Mozambique and Malawi. Transport of goods and passengers has become a reality for previously isolated areas of these countries. It inadvertently also supports non-coal associated business such as a growth in agriculture in the region. This coupled with other projects such as electricity generation and transmission will only go further to develop the Southern African region.

“Over and above the immediate benefits of the corridor project, the Nacala transaction showcases the success of global sponsors and stakeholders working together with African governments to deliver a project for the good of Africa. It is confirmation that Africa is open for business and investment. We are proud to have played a part in the funding of this strategic sub-Saharan African project which provides such wide and far reaching benefits for the local communities and economies,” concludes Henry.

This project has received a number of awards, including the ‘Best African ECA Finance Deal of the Year’ awarded by TXF ECA Finance Deals of the Year: 2018.

Nacala by numbers

2012 – The project was started in 2012
US$5.15-billion – Total cost of the project
US$2.730-billion – Total cost of the debt funding
912km – The distance of the single railway line that stretches from Tete in western Mozambique to the Nacala port on the eastern coast of the country through Malawi
4 Million – The anticipated number of tons of freight capacity per year
18 million tons – New projected delivery of coal for export
40% – Coal exports are to increase by 40% once the rail segment is in full operation
14 Years – The facility will be repaid over 14 years[/restrict]

 

News continues below

ERITREA’S PORT OF MASSAWA IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS, SAYS GOVERNOR

map of Eritrea and Ethiopia - mapwork: geology.com, appearig with a story in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news
map of Eritrea and Ethiopia – mapwork: geology.com

The rehabilitation of the port of Massawa in Eritrea has been completed, and it is ready to begin service, according to the governor of the city, Layne Asfahayle.

Quoted in the Addis Fortune, he said that the reconstruction was carried out to serve as an import and export hub for Ethiopia as it did…[restrict] in the years before the war between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

The port was established back in the 19th century, and it is Eritrea’s second largest port next to Assab.

An Ethiopian delegation led by Hailemariam Desalegn, former prime minister of Ethiopia, and business people who went to Eritrea on the first flight to Asmara in two decades, were among those who visited the port.

This visit and announcement is a sequel to the recent normalisation of Ethiopio – Eritrea relations.[/restrict]

 

News continues below

FOREST EXPORT RESTRICTIONS LIFTED IN TWO AFRICAN COUNTRIES

logging in Mozambique, featured in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news

The export of forest resources has been lifted in two African countries after an embargo on the export of logs was imposed.

In Angola it was announced that the Angolan Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is planning to remove the embargo placed on the exploration of forest resources as from next week (8 August).

This will take place with a ceremony to be held in the city of Luena, province of Moxico, the Angolan national director of Forests, Domingos Nazaré Veloso announced.

It follows an order to suspend all activities related to…[restrict] the exploration of forest resources in January this year, issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and followed revelations that illegal felling across the country was rife. The provinces of Kwando Kubango and Moxico were identified as the main areas where this was occurring.

The government apparently also had concerns over the handling of timber, from felling to its transport and then to its sale. When the suspension of all exports was announced earlier this year the Ministry of Agriculture justified the measure by saying that new legislation approved in 2017 was replacing laws in place since the colonial period.

Angola has a forest area estimated at 69.3 million hectares, representing 55.6% of its land area, and commercial timber reserves are estimated at 4.5 billion cubic metres.

Mozambique – Niassa to export timber

The other country reopening its export of forest products following an embargo or ban placed earlier is Mozambique, specifically the province of Niassa in the northwest.

Mozambique’s President Filipe Nyusi announced this on Sunday during a rally in Meluluca while on a working visit to the province.

“It pleases us that the reforestation projects we are supporting will soon allow Niassa to export timber,” the president is reported to have said.

Nyusi said the exports of timber will boost the local economy as well as support the rail transport to Niassa. He said trains arrive in the province loaded with freight but leave empty. This wold change as timber is again allowed to be exported, he said. He called on the use of rail for this transport.

He called for vigilance against those who “cheat the population by looting the riches of the province’s forests and wildlife. This will leave our province behind. It is not possible to hide a tree trunk in one’s pocket. They pass through our towns leaving small change behind. But afterwards they get rich in their own countries.”

“Their own countries” refers to countries like China and Vietnam which have featured in seizures of illegal exports in recent months and years.

He also referred to reforestation projects with species like pine and eucalyptus across large parts of the province.

President Nyusi noted the increase in soya bean production in Niassa which is resulting in the beans being exported. sources: AIM, Macauhub.[/restrict]

 

News continues below

WEBSITES TO WATCH – # 1

Seabourn Encore in Qatar, featured in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news
Seabourn Encore in Qatar

An occasional series by Paul Ridgway reporting from London

QATAR
Qatar Ports Management Company – Mwani Qatar is a Qatari shareholding company established in 2009.

Mwani Qatar manages seaports, quays, dry ports, container and other terminals, including cruise and passengers, and provides navigation assistance and pilotage, towage as well as aids to navigation in addition to loading / unloading and handling and storage of cargoes in all forms.

The company is closely involved in the development of seaports and related services to the highest internationally recognised standards of safety, security and quality and its strategic goal is to transform Qatari ports into the ports of choice for all users through efficient operations and enhanced customer focus. Mwani Qatar endeavours to consolidate its leading position locally for a strong regional and international presence as a leading integrated port and logistics services provider.

The company owns and manages three main commercial ports in Qatar: Doha Port, Al-Ruwais Port and Hamad Port which, it is understood, will become Qatar’s premier gateway and a regional hub in the area fulfilling the Qatar National Vision 2030.

In addition, Mwani Qatar is partnering with Qatar Tourism Authority to develop and implement the cruise industry in Qatar. Further to the completion of the Final Phase of Hamad Port and the relocation of all commercial operations from Doha Port, the latter will be redeveloped into a fully-fledged cruise and leisure yacht terminal facility, it is reported.

In recent weeks Qatar Ports Management Company – Mwani Qatar – achieved its highest performance in the year of blockade, thus enhancing Qatar’s independence and its global role in developing maritime trade.

Through the link below you can find operational statistics of Mwani Qatar Ports (Hamad Port, Doha Port and Al Ruwais Port) from 5 June 2017 to 5 June 2018


[0:59]

A photo gallery is available by: CLICKING HERE

A video gallery showing new Doha Port and a vision for the future of Mwani Qatar is available by: CLICKING HERE

Photo taken from www.mwani.com and reproduced with grateful acknowledgements©

 

News continues below

** INTERNATIONAL WATCH **
ATSB INVESTIGATION INTO LOSS OF CONTAINERS FROM YM EFFICIENCY OFF NEWCASTLE, NSW

YM Efficiency entering Port Botany, NSW on 6 June 2018. Photo: ATSB©, featured i9n Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news
YM Efficiency entering Port Botany, NSW on 6 June 2018.       Photo: ATSB©

Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) marine safety investigation Loss of containers overboard involving YM Efficiency, off Newcastle, New South Wales, 1 June 2018

On 1 June 2018, at about 00h35 Eastern Standard Time*, the Liberian-flagged container ship YM EFFICIENCY lost 81 containers overboard in gale-force weather.

At the time of the container loss, the ship was about 16 NM east-south-east of Newcastle, New South Wales (NSW). The occurrence also resulted in damage to a further 62 containers and structural damage to the ship’s gangway, superstructure and lashing bridges. The ship was on a…[restrict] regular service, calling at ports in China, Taiwan and Australia.

YM Efficiency is a 268.8 metres loa, 4,250 TEU container ship, registered in Monrovia, Liberia. The ship was owned by All Oceans Transportation, Liberia and operated by Yang Ming Marine Transport, Taiwan. At the time of the incident, the ship was classed with the American Bureau of Shipping.

Loading in Taiwan

On the afternoon of 13 May 2018, YM Efficiency berthed at the port of Kaohsiung, Taiwan. About an hour after berthing, the loading of containers on board the ship commenced and just before midnight, cargo operations were completed. Shortly after, YM Efficiency departed Kaohsiung for Port Botany, NSW, Australia, with a maximum draft of about 12.6 metres aft. On departure, the ship’s passage was executed to achieve an expected time of arrival at the pilot station off Port Botany at noon on 1 June 2018.

Passage to Australia

During the passage south, the ship’s crew received regular weather forecasts and advice to assist voyage planning, as part of a commercial weather routeing service. By the afternoon of 29 May, the ship was off the coast of Brisbane, Queensland making good an average speed of about 9 knots. By this time, the ship’s crew had also begun to receive weather data broadcast by Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology (BoM).

By 09h30 on 30 May, YM Efficiency was off the coast of NSW, about 32 NM to the north-east of Coffs Harbour. Weather forecast information received on board predicted steadily increasing winds and seas into the next day. Between 09h30 and 11h30 that morning, in preparation for the expected heavy weather, the chief officer was charged with carrying out checks in accordance with the ship’s heavy weather checklist. This included a check to ensure that container lashings on deck were secure, which was subsequently completed. By 12h00, the ship was off Coffs Harbour with the weather recorded in the ship’s logbook as being WSWly winds at Force four (between 11 and 16 knots) with 3 metre seas and 2 metre swells.

At 16h05 on 30 May, BoM issued coastal waters forecasts for the Macquarie and Hunter coasts of NSW. Both forecasts included gale warnings for the next day, 31 May, caused by a low-pressure system moving east over the Tasman Sea for the next few days.

By 19h00 on 30 May, YM Efficiency was off Port Macquarie and the weather had deteriorated. The weather was recorded as being cloudy with west-south-westerly winds at force eight (between 34 and 40 knots) with 6 m seas and 5 m swells.

By 08h00 the next morning, 31 May, the ship was about 32 NM ENE of Port Stephens. The weather was recorded as being cloudy with WSWly winds at Force eight (between 34 and 40 knots) with 7 metre seas and 5 metre swells. The ship’s main engine speed was set at 35 revolutions per minute (rpm), the equivalent of ‘slow ahead’. At about 08h30, a second heavy weather checklist was completed, with the container lashings checked once again.

Damaged containers on bay 52 and bay 56 on board YM Efficiency. Photo: ATSB ©, featured in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news
Damaged containers on bay 52 and bay 56 on board YM Efficiency. Photo: ATSB ©

The incident

At about 13h00 on 31 May, the ship received information that the pilot boarding time for the ship’s call at Port Botany had been delayed by eight hours to 20h00 on 1 June. At about 14h00, the ship’s main engine was stopped and the ship commenced drifting off the NSW coast, about 30 NM east of Newcastle. The weather at the time was recorded as being overcast with WSWly winds at Force eight (between 34 and 40 knots) with 6 metre seas and 5 metre swells.

The ship’s main engine was re-started for brief periods over the next few hours to maintain some control over the ship’s drift. The rough weather continued into the evening with the wind recorded as having increased to Force nine (between 41 and 47 knots) at 22h00.

At about 23h30, the ship’s main engine was started with the engine speed set to 35 rpm and the ship’s head was slowly brought around to the SW to resume the passage to Port Botany. At midnight, the third officer handed over the navigation watch to the second officer. By this time, the ship was on a heading of about 210° with a speed of about 4.3 knots. The weather at midnight was recorded as being overcast with WSWly winds at Force nine with 6 metre seas and 5 metre swells.

At about 00h34 on 1 June, in a position about 16 NM ESE of Newcastle, the ship experienced a period of quick, heavy rolling for about 60 to 90 seconds. The rolling was estimated by the ship’s master as having reached angles of up to 30º to port and starboard. Shortly after the start of the rolling, several engineering alarms sounded and the main engine shut down with the rpm reducing to zero. The second officer reported hearing loud noises on deck and suspected that there had been some cargo damage. He turned on the ship’s deck lights and observed that containers had been damaged and possibly lost overboard from the bays aft of the accommodation.

By about 00h36, the rolling had reduced and the ship’s motion had calmed. By this time, the master had arrived on the bridge and the chief engineer and second engineer had proceeded down to the engine room to assist the duty engineer with the main engine shutdown.

The master took over the navigation of the vessel and instructed the chief officer to conduct a damage assessment. At about 00h40, the chief officer reported several containers damaged or lost overboard from bays 52 and 56, just aft of the accommodation.

At about 00h45, the main engine was successfully re-started and the engine telegraph on the bridge was placed at ‘dead slow ahead’ and then, almost immediately, placed at ‘stop’ again. The ship continued to drift in the gale force winds and seas until about 02h52, when the main engine was started and the ship resumed passage for Port Botany.

In the morning, the ship’s crew conducted more detailed damage assessments and attempted to stabilise the damaged and collapsed containers on deck. The container loss and damage was found to be limited to bays 52 and 56. The container loss was reported to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) who coordinated notifications to other involved stakeholders. AMSA also commenced modelling the drift of the lost containers and initiated safety broadcasts to warn shipping in the area of the hazard posed by the lost containers.

Over the next few days, AMSA, along with Roads and Maritime Services, NSW, continued to work with the ship’s owners and insurers to detect, identify and track containers and their contents on the NSW coast. Although there were a considerable number of damaged containers still on board the ship, no further containers were lost overboard after the container loss event on 1 June. The ship sustained damage to the gangway, superstructure and lashing bridges.

YM Efficiency eventually berthed in Port Botany at about 09h36 on 6 June. Over the course of the following days, personnel representing several different stakeholders attended the ship including investigators from the ATSB, AMSA surveyors and the ship’s flag state, Liberia.

On 11 June, the first damaged container was discharged from the ship and by 21 June, all remaining damaged containers had been discharged. YM Efficiency departed Port Botany for Melbourne at about 21h30 on 22 June.

Ongoing investigation

The investigation is continuing. The ATSB will follow any location and salvage efforts to identify any further evidence should it become available.

The investigation will include the following:

  • Analysis of the ship’s container stow and lashing arrangement
  • Analysis of the ship’s stability condition
  • Actions of the ship’s officers and crew following the incident
  • Analysis of weather conditions at the time of the incident

This information was been kindly provided by the ATSB on 24 July.

It is expected that new evidence will become available as the investigation progresses that will enhance the ATSB’s understanding of the accident as outlined in this report. As such, no analysis or findings are included in this update.

Edited by Paul Ridgway
London

*Eastern Standard Time (EST): Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) + 10 hours.[/restrict]

 

News continues below

** PRESS RELEASES **
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.

 

Bureay Veritas banner, appearing in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news

BUREAU VERITAS ISSUES NEW FSU NOTATIONS AND GUIDELINES FOR CONVERSION OF LNG CARRIERS TO FSRUs/FSUs

* The notation FSU – LNG provides the specific classification requirements including structure and safety aspects for floating units dedicated to store LNG that are neither designed nor built to transport LNG.

* The notation Liquefied Gas Carrier – FSU provides specific classification requirements including structure and safety aspects for floating units dedicated to store LNG that are also designed and built to transport LNG

* The guidelines LNG Carrier Conversion to FSRU or FSU address the requirements for conversion of existing LNG carriers to either floating LNG gas storage units fitted with a regasification plant (FSRUs) or floating LNG gas storage units (FSUs)

Bureau Veritas has issued new and updated notations and guidance to…[restrict] support the construction and operation of both Floating Storage and Regasification Units (FSRUs) and Floating Storage Units (FSUs).

 

Interest in FSRUs and FSUs is growing. Floating gas terminals offer operational flexibility, reduced timescales – from concept to operation, and cost effectiveness in comparison with onshore terminals. Additionally, converting existing LNG carriers offers a fast route to operational availability. There are more than 20 LNG carriers presently in laid-up condition. Many of them are candidates for conversion to floating terminal applications, such as FSRU or FSU operations. The new conversion guidelines provide clear advice to the LNG industry in properly addressing issues that either will or may arise during the conversion of LNG carriers into FSRUs or FSUs, helping shipowners to either avoid or to overcome potential problems.

Matthieu de Tugny, COO, Bureau Veritas, Marine & Offshore commenting said, “With growing interest in floating gas terminals, working with industry stakeholders, we are providing the rule framework and guidance necessary to develop both FSRU and FSU terminals – both for newbuildings and conversions.

“Last November, Bureau Veritas published NR645, the first rules document fully dedicated to Floating Storage and Regasification Units. These new notations and guidelines are further evidence of BV’s classification leadership in both FSRUs and FSUs.”

Bureau Veritas and floating gas terminal leadership in the development of specific notations, regulations and tools: the first FSRU newbuild, delivered in 2005, was to BV class; the largest FSRU ever built is MOL’s BV classed 263,000 m3 unit delivered in 2017; nearly 40% of the fleet in service is BV class. Additionally, a broad range of 2nd party services is provided by Bureau Veritas including: risk assessment and support including tools for sloshing analysis, mooring, CFD, hydro-structural assessments and ice/structure interaction.[/restrict]

 

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.

 

PIC OF THE DAY : MOL PROSPERITY

MOL Prosperity. Picture: Trevor Jones, appearing in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news
MOL Prosperity. Picture: Trevor Jones

Although still displaying the identity of MOL (Mitsui OSK Line), the container ship MOL PROSPERITY (IMO 9321031) is now one of the ONE ship fleet, ONE (Ocean Network Express) being the amalgamation of the container fleets of MOL, NYK Line, and K-Line, Japan’s three biggest container shipping lines. Perhaps however it should be called the PINK LINE on account of all ships and containers in future to be painted in a deep pink livery, as has already begun happening. In the meantime ships such as MOL Prosperity continue in their former colours, presumably until their next dry docking for survey etc. The 72,968-dwt MOL Prosperity has a length of 292 metres and a beam of 40m and a container capacity of 6350 TEU and was built in 2006 at the Koyo Dockyard in Muhara, Japan. The Durban port tug alongside is UTHUKELA.   This picture is by Trevor Jones

 

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

“I am a part of all that I have met.”
― Alfred Lord Tennyson

 

 

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

TABLE BAY UNDERWAY SHIPPING
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 

 

 

South Africa’s most comprehensive Directory of Maritime Services will shortly be listed on this site. 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