TODAY’S BULLETIN OF MARITIME NEWS
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- First View : RUBYRED
- Sri Lanka’s Hambantota port set to become leading port in Indian Ocean
- Hapag-Lloyd introduces new East Africa Service 2
- Construction of the Lagos-Ibadan rail corridor project to start during August
- New Angolan customs tariff effective from tomorrow
- Saudi Arabia resumes oil exports through Red Sea
- DP World signs agreement to boost international trade
- The Unifeeder Group becomes part of the DP World Group
- Armed forces on high alert for the Caribbean hurricane season
- Combined Task Force 152 Conference on Illicit Charcoal Smuggling Funding Terrorism
- Expected Ship Arrivals and Ships in Port
- Cruise News and Naval Activities
- Pics of the Day : MSC BRANKA & MSC NICOLE
- The masthead image today (Monday) is of Port Elizabeth Car & Container Terminals
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The bulker RUBYRED (IMO 9159426) makes her final approach before entering the port of Durban late in July. This 48,225-dwt bulker was built in Japan at the Oshima Shipbuilding yard in Saikai and has over the years called in Durban under several different names, among them ROBEERT SCHULTE and MAX OLDENDORFF. The ship is owned by Greek interests and managed by TST International SA of Athens, Greece. This picture is by Keith Betts
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SRI LANKA’S HAMBANTOTA SET TO BECOME LEADING PORT IN INDIAN OCEAN
According to a Sri Lankan port official, the Chinese-managed and operated port of Hambantota is set to become a leading port in the Indian Ocean.
Quoted by Xinhua, the chief executive officer of the Hambantota International Port Services (HIPS), Ravindra Jayawickreme, said the location of the Hambantota port in the south of Sri Lanka was extremely advantageous as it was located just a little less than half a nautical mile from the major sea lanes crisscrossing the Indian Ocean.
Jayawickreme said that what had been lacking before was the right partnership to push the port into the limelight and realise its potential, and this is was what China Merchants Port Holdings brought to the table.
China Merchants Port Holdings (CM Port) entered into partnership with the Sri Lanka Ports Authority in July last year to develop and manage the port.
Jayawickreme said that the Hambantota port was being developed as a multipurpose port, which will provide a variety of services such as handling containers, break bulk, roll-on/roll-off, passengers, oil, bulk terminal, gas and project cargo.
He said Hambantota was slated to become one of a kind, as it will be the only port in the country designed to handle the full gamut of services in the maritime and logistics area. source: Xinhua
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HAPAG-LlOYD INTRODUCES NEW EAST AFRICA SERVICE 2
Hapag-Lloyd is enhancing its East Africa product by introducing the new East Africa Service 2 (EAS 2), which will directly link the Arabian Gulf and the West Coast of India with East Africa.
Further connection to Hapag-Lloyd’s global mainliner services will be executed via…[restrict] Jebel Ali.
With effect the end of September, Hapag-Lloyd will enter a co-operation with partners to become a vessel provider in an existing service connecting West Indian and Middle East Gulf ports to Mombasa and Dar es Salaam.
The port rotation will be as follows:
Nhava Sheva – Mundra – Khor Fakkan – Jebel Ali – Mombasa – Dar es Salaam – Nhava Sheva
EAS2 will connect to numerous Hapag-Lloyd mainliner services at Jebel Ali, offering competitive lead times between global markets.
In addition Hapag-Lloyd will continue to offer a wide range of hinterland connections, such as Burundi, Congo D.R., Rwanda, Uganda and Zambia via the gateways of Mombasa and Dar es Salaam.
The first estimated departure times of EAS2 will be:
Southbound: Nhava Sheva 29 September 2018; Jebel Ali 5 October 2018
Northbound: Mombasa 13 October 2018; Dar es Salaam 18 October 2018
At the same time, Hapag-Lloyd’s East Africa Service (EAS) will be terminated. The last estimated EAS departure times will be:
Southbound: SPERO 1840S, Jeddah 8 October 2018
Northbound: SPERO 1840N, Mombasa 19 October 2018; Dar es Salaam 22 October 2018[/restrict]
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CONSTRUCTION OF THE LAGOS-IBADAN RAIL CORRIDOR PROJECT TO START DURING AUGUST
Nigeria’s Federal Government says that work on the Lagos-Ibadan rail corridor will get underway this month.
That’s according to Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode who said the development will go a long way to improving the movement of cargoes between Lagos and other parts of the country.
This comes at a time when the road access to the port terminals of Apapa and Tin Can Island are severely congested.
Ambode said that contractors will move onto the site to continue the Lagos-Ibadan rail project specifically with…[restrict] a view to helping solve the Lagos road congestion problem.
“You would recall that the Federal Government had commenced construction of the Lagos-Ibadan railway and the focus was more on the Ibadan and Abeokuta axis because we had challenges in Lagos which included utilities and not much with the communities. I think I have to commend the communities that allowed us to use their land, though we would pay compensation but not much. So, we are grateful to all the communities from Lagos to Ibadan,” said Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.
Amaechi said there were a number of challenges to overcome including utility gas and water piping, and bridges that either to be built or demolished. “I remember when we said we wanted to demolish the Costain Bridge, everybody screamed and we had to invite the Lagos Governor to assist us; he took us there and promised that he would pay the compensation,” he said.
“I like the fact that the Lagos State Government is also contributing to these efforts. So, what we have come here to do is to ensure that there is a win-win situation and the Lagos Governor has been very cooperative. He cooperated all the way from the beginning till now and what we have decided is that the CCECC should move back to Lagos and commence construction because we are insisting that by December, we should complete the Lagos-Ibadan Railway,” Amaechi said.
Road between Apapa and Tin Can Island
The Federal Government has also awarded the contract to deal with the road between Apapa and Tin Can to enable cargoes to be evacuated freely by road in addition to rail.
“We want to use this platform to thank the President and the Federal Executive Council for approving the reconstruction of the Tin Can-Apapa-Oshodi Expressway up to the Toll Gate which was done on Wednesday,” said Governor Ambode. “This is in continuation of our efforts at finding a permanent solution to the gridlock in the Apapa axis. We just want to reiterate our commitment to collaborate with the Federal Government to ensure that we reduce the sufferings of Lagosians,” he said.[/restrict]
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NEW ANGOLAN CUSTOMS TARIFF EFFECTIVE FROM TOMORROW
Angola’s new customs tariff, which exempts from taxation the import of products included in the basic basket and hospital equipment, takes force tomorrow (9 August), three months after it was approved by presidential legislative decree, reports macauhub, quoting from the newspaper Jornal de Angola.
The document expands the list of merchandise exempt from import duties and consumption tax and modifies…[restrict] the rates for importing and exporting several others. Among the group of merchandise to be exempted from duties are passenger transport vehicles with 18 or more seats.
The group also encompasses industrial production machinery, construction or mining machinery or devices, seeds, pesticides, fertiliser, tractors and manual implements or equipment for farming, without the need to apply for exemption beforehand.
The newspaper also reports that this legal instrument places Angola among the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) countries with the most merchandise categories exempt from import duties, according to a study by the General Tax Administration (AGT).
Ahead of Angola are only the five countries comprising the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) – South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) – and the tax havens of Mauritius and Seychelles.
The new customs tariff is in accordance with the 2017 version of the Harmonised Commodity Description and Coding System of the World Customs Organisation, a document subject to revision every five years to adjust to progress in science, technology and international trade.
Besides expanding tax benefits, the 2017 harmonised version of the customs tariff also revises all customs procedures to simplify, streamline and harmonise them with international instruments of the World Customs Organisation and Word Trade Organisation. source: macauhub[/restrict]
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SAUDI ARABIA RESUMES OIL EXPORTS THROUGH RED SEA
Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil exporter said at the weekend that it has resumed sending oil shipments through the Red Sea via the strategic Strait of Bab al-Mandeb.
Bab al-Mandeb is an island that guards the southern entrance to the Red Sea, through which much of the shipping trade between Europe and South-East Asia and the…[restrict] Far East passes.
However Saudi Arabia halted oil shipments through the strait on 25 July following attacks on two oil tankers by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement.
“The decision to resume oil shipment through the strait of Bab al-Mandeb was made after the leadership of the coalition has taken necessary measures to protect the coalition states’ ships,” Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said in a ministry statement.
Oil company Saudi Aramco confirmed that shipping had resumed effective immediately.
“The company is careful to continue monitoring and evaluating the current situation in coordination with the relevant bodies and take all necessary procedures to ensure safety,” Aramco said in a statement.
Ships passing through the Bab al-Mandeb strait have come under periodic attack, including the use of boats filled with explosives and aimed at ramming the passing ships. A US Navy ship in the service of the UAE Emirate of Dubai was damaged by an attack launched in the strait and several other US Navy ships also received the attention of the Houthi forces, but each attack was successfully repulsed.
Saudi Arabia is seen as a sworn enemy of the Houthis who occupy about half of Yemen including the capital Sanaa and the country’s major port of Hodeidah, where an attack by Saudi-led coalition forces is currently engaged in trying to evict the Houthis. Saudi Arabia intervened in the civil war in Yemen in 2015 in an effort to restore the western-aligned but now exiled president Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.
In this the coalition forces have been marginally successful. The battle for the port of Hodeidah is seen as a major step in restoring the exiled government to power.
In the meantime the conflict involving regional forces acting partly as proxy forces for the US and European Union nations in their undeclared war with Iran and the various terrorist groups has become a flash point and danger to international shipping using one of the most important trade lanes and choke points.[/restrict]
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New market for traders: 3 million square metres in Jebel Ali Free Zone
An agreement to jointly construct a new Traders’ Market at DP World’s flagship Jebel Ali Port and Free Zone in Dubai on a total build-up area of three million square metres has been signed between the global trade enabler and the Zhejiang China Commodities City Group, providing further impetus to China’s Belt and Road Initiative. This was announced from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on 19 July.
DP World will be building the Traders’ Market within the Jebel Ali Free Zone Area located in…[restrict] Jafza South next to the Dubai Expo 2020 site. The market will include clusters of traders from all over the world, offering a wide range of products at one site. They will be divided by sector, ranging from household goods, building materials and food and beverage, to cosmetics and healthcare, energy and power, and engineering and technology. (See also: http://jafza.ae/media-centre/latest-news/ )
Apart from promoting the Chinese government’s Belt and Road initiative, the Traders Market will help Chinese, local and international manufacturers benefit from Dubai’s strategic location as a business and trade hub. It will also enable trade within the GCC, MEA and India Subcontinent regions, widening market reach for goods and serving as a platform to trade at competitive prices.
The partnership complements an agreement that was signed earlier this year between DP World and the Zhejiang Seaport Investment and Operation Group (ZPG) for a ‘Straight-through Warehouse’ project in Yiwu, China – which is the world’s largest wholesale market for small commodities – for a warehouse that will hold cargo destined for Dubai and the Middle East.
Both projects aim to boost trade between the UAE and China by offering Chinese businesses DP World’s integrated logistics and trading solutions, including cargo handling at their terminals in China and Jebel Ali Port in Dubai, warehousing facilities in the neighbouring Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza), one-stop customs clearance facilities and trade licenses.
Jebel Ali Port and Free Zone provides companies access to a local and regional market of more than 2 billion people, supplemented by DP World’s global network of 78 marine and inland terminals, which enable trade in countries that account for over 50% of the world’s GDP.
DP World Group Chairman and CEO, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, commented: “Dubai and China have a long-standing trading history and it’s essential that we develop the movement of goods in tandem with the growing needs of consumers. Today people expect to receive their products quickly and efficiently and initiatives such as these will create the trade hubs and seamless supply chain opportunities needed to capitalise on global economic growth.
“The new Traders’ Market will provide an ideal platform for traders to showcase and sell goods in Dubai to local and international businesses. We look forward to working with the Zhejiang China Commodities City Group and will continue to support China’s Belt and Road initiative and innovate for mutually beneficial development.”
China was Dubai’s prime trading partner in 2017, with total trade between them amounting to AED 176.5 billion (US$ 47.7 billion) last year.[/restrict]
Edited by Paul Ridgway
London
DP World’s Annual Report & Accounts for 2017 is available by: CLICKING HERE
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On 7 August the Unifeeder Group, the largest pan-European feeder and shortsea operator, announced from Aarhus, Denmark, the signing of agreed acquisition by DP World.
Under its new ownership, Unifeeder will benefit from DP World’s global scope, size and presence which in turn will enable Unifeeder’s brands to expand further and beyond present territories and products. Unifeeder will continue to operate on a fully independent, multi-user basis under its current existing management, and expects to see additional growth as a…[restrict] consequence of the transaction.
Commenting on the acquisition, Jesper Kristensen, CEO, said: “We are excited to join the DP World Group. Not only is there commonality with our business models but we also share the vision of serving our customers through removing inefficiencies and delivering sustainable shareholder value. We have enjoyed great success over the last five years under Nordic Capital’s ownership, and we believe that the Unifeeder brand within the DP World Group has the opportunity to accelerate growth, expand further and take the business to the next level.”
He continued: “…together with our new owner, we will strive to further improve our offering and further optimise the transshipment markets and the supply chains in Europe and beyond – to the benefit of our clients in particular and the cargo in general.”
Speaking of the acquisition, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO, DP World, reflected: “We are delighted to add the Unifeeder brand under the DP World umbrella, which supports our strategy to grow in complementary sectors, strengthen our product offering and play a wider role in the global supply chain as a trade enabler.”
He added: “The ever-growing deployment of ultra-large container vessels has made high-quality connectivity from hub terminals crucial for our customers and Unifeeder is a best-in-class logistics provider in this space with a strong reputation in Europe. Our aim is to leverage on the in-house expertise of Unifeeder and to accelerate growth in this scalable platform to deliver value for all stakeholders. Unifeeder operates on the same common-user principle as DP World and adds to the Group’s strong value proposition to international shipping lines and end cargo owners in making the global supply chain more efficient and cost effective.”
Under its present ownership, led by leading private equity investor, Nordic Capital, Unifeeder has since 2013 grown to become the largest independent Pan-European feeder and shortsea operator with a well-connected network, spanning more than 100 ports in Northern and Western Europe, the Mediterranean (including North Africa and the Middle East) as well as in the Black Sea.
About Unifeeder
Unifeeder operates approximately 60 short-term chartered vessels, carrying around 3.2m TEUs and performing some 12,000 port calls annually.
The company serves two distinct markets: Feeder Services transport containers from the large European hubs to regional ports, thereby providing major international deep-sea container shipping lines easy access to ports and regions beyond their reach. Shortsea Services provide fully multi-modal door-to-door transport of full-load containerized cargo for customers across Europe, combining seaborne transport with third party road and/or rail logistical services.
Founded in 1977 and headquartered in Aarhus, Denmark, Unifeeder has in the region of 400 employees and professional representatives in 25 countries.
About DP World
DP World is a leading enabler of global trade and an integral part of the supply chain. The group operates multiple businesses – from marine and inland terminals, maritime services, logistics and ancillary services to technology-driven trade solutions.
There is a portfolio of 78 operating marine and inland terminals supported by over 50 related businesses in 40 countries across six continents with a significant presence in both high-growth and mature markets. This is achieved with a dedicated team of over 36,000 employees from 103 countries with long-standing relationships with governments, shipping lines, importers and exporters, communities, and many other important constituents of the global supply chain, to add value and provide quality services.
In 2017, DP World handled 70.1 million TEU across its portfolio. With a committed pipeline of developments and expansions, current gross capacity of 88.2 million TEU is expected to rise to more than 100 million TEU by 2020.[/restrict]
Edited by Paul Ridgway
London
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In addition to the emerging possibility of hurricane damage, the island of Montserrat constantly deals with the threat of disaster from the island’s active volcano. Since the eruption in 1995 the volcano has remained highly active and Mounts Bay’s visit served to reassure the local populous of the UK’s continued support of overseas territories. All illustrations MoD Crown Copyright 2018 ©
It was reported by the UK Ministry of Defence on 1 August that the UK’s Overseas Territories will have unwavering military support throughout the 2018 hurricane season.
In September last British residents were killed, homes were destroyed, and infrastructure was severely reduced when Irma and Maria, two of the most powerful hurricanes for decades, smashed through the region consecutively in September 2017.
Armed Forces Minister Mark Lancaster visited Barbados, Antigua and Montserrat in week ending 4 August to reassure locals that the Ministry of Defence is supporting other Government departments to ensure that similar devastation is not repeated.
Lancaster commented: “No matter what the elements throw at our Overseas Territories this year, we will be there to help them every step of the way throughout 2018 and beyond. We may not be able to prevent natural disasters from occurring, but our world-class military have been planning meticulously to ensure lives are protected and damage is kept to a minimum.
“Our citizens in the Caribbean have already shown incredible resilience over the last year and we are determined that when this difficult period is over their local facilities are in a better state than they were before.”
Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Mounts Bay will act as the hub of the UK’s response, and the minister was able to see a demonstration of her amphibious capabilities while in Montserrat.
As well as being able to carry vital aid and equipment, Mounts Bay also has the latest Royal Navy Wildcat helicopter on board to provide aerial support – this will be the first time it has operated in the Caribbean. There is also a medical facility on board, with ten patient beds for casualties.
This ministerial visit also provided an opportunity for Lancaster to speak to island governors and residents about their needs as they continue to recover from last year’s hurricanes.
As well as preparing for this year, Mounts Bay has been in the region since Irma struck and will remain there until 2020 to help restore the islands.
It is reported that the British Government has already committed £142 million to support the recovery effort in the affected territories, as well as £300 million of UK loan guarantees.
Within days and as the Government continues its preparations for the 2018 hurricane season Foreign & Commonwealth Office minister Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon is due to visit the British Virgin Islands, which suffered extensive damage in 2017.
Edited by Paul Ridgway
London
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COMBINED TASK FORCE 152 CONFERENCE ON ILLICIT CHARCOAL SMUGGLING FUNDING TERRORISM
The inaugural conference on combating the illicit smuggling of charcoal was held at the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) headquarters in Bahrain on 23 July 2018.
The conference was attended by representatives from GCC countries, as well as CMF members.
With the majority of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries being present, the aim of the conference was to identify potential methods to disrupt the illicit trade in charcoal emanating from Somalia. It is estimated that terrorist organisations such as Al-Shabaab earn in the region of US$10 million per year by smuggling charcoal from Somalia, which is often marketed as legitimate charcoal to buyers in GCC countries.
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) placed a total ban on…[restrict] the export of charcoal from Somalia in 2012. In 2014, the UNSC gave authorisation for Member States to inspect vessels suspected to be carrying charcoal from Somalia in violation of the ban, to seize and dispose of the illicit cargo and to divert the vessels to a port for such disposal. There are multiple nuances in enforcing any UNSCR, and for Charcoal this includes considerations such as safe disposal, avoiding environmental damage.
Dr Charles Cater, the Natural Resources expert from the United Nations Somalia and Eritrea Monitoring Group (UNSEMG) explained that a further issue with the scale of charcoal smuggling is that, on current usage and smuggling, it is estimated that there will be no trees left in Somalia by the year 2060.
This will leave the country prone to drought and famine, leading to both an environmental and humanitarian disaster. While CMF, EU NAVFOR and other international partners’ efforts have suppressed piracy from Somalia, further economic hardship would increase the incentives for Somali piracy to resurface.
Attendees at the conference agreed that CMF and attendant nations would forge stronger links with the UNSEMG and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in order to facilitate information sharing and training.
Dr Cater said: “The Monitoring Group looks forward to further cooperation with CMF toward improved implementation of the charcoal ban in order to diminish and disrupt Al-Shabaab financing.”
“We are ready to provide support to all countries to find ways in which we can work to stop the illegal charcoal trade,” said Captain Abullah Alabuder, the Commander of Combined Task Force 152. “We must all work together, with the UNSEMG, to identify solutions to prevent terrorists from being able to leverage the funds they make from the illicit trade of charcoal.”
[/restrict]
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QM2 in Cape Town. Picture by Ian Shiffman
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PICS OF THE DAY : MSC BRANKA & MSC NICOLE
Two Mediterranean Shipping Company ships to close off this week’s news. Top is the imposing 110,527-dwt MSC BRANKA (IMO 9720495), which has an overall length of 300 metres and a width of 48.3m and was built in 2016. She can carry a maximum of 9,400 TEU and was built in 2016 at the Shanghai Jiangnan Changxin Shipbuilding Co at Shanghai in China as hull number H3005. MSC Branka is flagged in Portugal. The second ship is the older and much travelled (but still in good condition for an almost 30-year old ship) MSC NICOLE (IMO 8509387) seen sailing from the port in Durban, one of her regular calls over many years. The 41787-dwt MSC Nicole was built in 1989 and is 198 metres long and 32m wide and is self-geared with five deck cranes. Flying the Panamanian flag she was built at the Normed Constructions Navales du Littoral shipyard at La Ciotat in France and has a container caoacity of just 2,037 TEU. Both pictures are by Trevor Jones
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
“We must remember that nothing in this world really belongs to us. At best, we are merely borrowers.”
― Christopher Isherwood
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