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
- First View : MAERSK KAWASAKI
- New powerful tug enters service at Port of Mombasa
- DP World expands strategic presence at Somaliland’s Port of Berbera
- New all-women bunker barge company starts service in Algoa Bay
- Hansa Heavylift delivers giant Egina carousel to Nigeria
- Nigeria, and Lagos in particular, remain dominant ports in West & Central Africa
- MSC Honoured for Whale Protection Measures
- Passenger ship operators urged to do more to prevent the spread of Legionnaires Disease
- North America’s first LNG bunker barge is introduced
- Expected Ship Arrivals and Ships in Port
- Cruise News and Naval Activities
- Pics of the Day : CITY OF SHANGHAI
- The masthead image today (Monday) is Port of Cape Town, Elliot & Tanker Basins, Duncan Dock beyond
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Maersk Line container ship MAERSK KAWASAKI (IMO 9107887) seen on her berth at Freeport Bahamas earlier this year, having just taken the place of MSC Aniello. Built in 1997 and now owned by Greek interests and managed by Costamare Shipping of Athens in Greece, the 7,900-TEU ship was built for Maersk Line at the Odense Steel Shipyard AS, Denmark as hull number 159. When launched the 90,455-dwt container ship was named Kirsten Maersk. She is 318 metres in length and 43m wide and when built she would have been regarded as a particularly large container ship. This picture is by former Cape Town photographer Tony de Freitas now living in the United States.
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NEW POWERFUL TUG ENTERS SERVICE AT PORT OF MOMBASA
Kenya’s Port of Mombasa has taken delivery of a new harbour tug, the Robert Allan-designed Raster 3200, 75-ton bollard pull Azimuth stern driven tug EUGENE, so named for the late port pilot Captain Eugene Okoth who died on duty while bringing a car carrier into port in April 2016.
The tug was built in China at a cost of Sh1.1 billion (US$10.923 million) at the Cheoy Lee Shipbuilders shipyard and arrived in late July after a 26-day journey from the shipyard.
She becomes the most powerful harbour tug in service along the entire east coast of Africa, exceeding the given 70-ton bollard pulls of the nine new South African Voith tugs that have or are about to enter service.
The Port of Mombasa now operates with a fleet of five tugs.
A pilot boat is also on order for the new Port of Lamu currently under construction at a cost of KSh 600 million. The first berth at the new Lamu port will be completed during next year.
Eugene arrived in Mombasa to a welcome performed by the other tugs in Kilindini Harbour, spraying the traditional water welcome.
The tug has an overall length of 32 metres and a beam of 12.8m with a moulded hull depth of 5.37m and a maximum draught of 5.80m. Mombasa’s other ‘D’ series tugs are 30m in length and have bollard pulls of 58 tons. On trials she achieved a running speed ahead of 13.5 knots.
There is accommodation on board for up to eight crew members, with the master and chief engineer’s cabins on the main deck plus three two-berth cabins for crew on the lower accommodation deck. The deckhouse arrangement is completed with a galley and a spacious mess/lounge room.
Deck machinery comprises a ship-assist hawser winch forward, manufactured by MacGregor and a radial type tow hook on the aft deck. In addition, a capstan is installed aft to facilitate line handling operations. The wheelhouse is designed for maximum all-round visibility and provides maximum visibility to both fore and aft deck working areas.
Main propulsion for this RAstar 3200 tug consists of a pair of CAT 3516C HD high-speed diesel engines; each rated 2240 kW at 1800 rpm, and each driving a Rolls-Royce 255 fixed pitch Z-drive unit, in ASD configuration. The electrical plant comprises three identical Cummins diesel gen-sets, each with a power output of 80 ekW.
Ship-handling fenders at the bow consist of one row cylindrical fender at the main deck level, with W block fenders between the main deck and the knuckle. Two hollow ‘D’ fenders provide protection at the main and foc’sle deck sheer lines, and W block fenders are used at the stern. The unique hull form of the RAstar tugs gives these vessels a level of crew safety and comfort that will enable operation in conditions previously deemed unworkable.
General Manager Human Resources and administration Dr Amani Komora stressed the need for employees to focus on productivity even as the Authority modernises its equipment.
“We have delivered a tug that is superior to the previous ones, because we want to improve on quality,” he said.
He assured the port marine engineers and other technical staff of support regarding the necessary training programmes to keep them abreast with the ever changing technology and to ensure the equipment remains well manned.
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DP WORLD EXPANDS STRATEGIC PRESENCE AT SOMALILAND’S PORT OF BERBERA
DP World, which holds a controversial long-term concession on the Somaliland Port of Berbera, is continuing to expand its presence in the Gulf of Aden port.
New equipment is providing the port with the ability to better handle cargo and…[restrict] ships arriving or departing from the port and is in anticipation of increasing volumes of cargo from Somaliland’s neighbour Ethiopia which has acquired a minority share in the port.
Among the equipment is a new tug which was presented to the Somaliland Port Authority, which has the capability of better handling larger ships that call at the port.
The 226-gt tug has been named EGAL (IMO 97563410 in honour of the president of Somaliland, Muhammed Haji Ibrahim Egal, who served between 1993 and 2002.
Egal was built in 2014 and is registered to the Somalialand Investment Co of Dubai, a subsidiary of DP World. Prior to July this year Egal was named DOGANCAY XXVI.
The port also received three reach stackers in addition to three already placed in service from last year. Other equipment includes empty container handlers to ensure that space at the port is maximised and three mobile telescopic cranes for the handling of livestock and general cargo.
The export of camels from Berbera is an important export commodity.
The new equipment forms part of DP World Berbera’s expansion to speed up work at the port and increase container vessel performance by 70 per cent.
“The Port of Berbera is an important gateway and this equipment will help the efficient delivery of goods and increase cargo volumes supporting Somaliland’s development as a major trade hub in the Horn of Africa,” said DP World MEA Region CEO and Managing Director Suhail Al Banna. source: Somaliland Press[/restrict]
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NEW ALL-WOMEN BUNKER BARGE COMPANY STARTS SERVICE IN ALGOA BAY
A new all-women owned bunkering company has set up in business based at the Port of Ngqura and servicing ships offshore in Algoa Bay.
The company is South African-owned and all-women managed South African Marine Fuels (SAMF), whose managing director is Siyamthanda Maya.
SAMF operates with three bunker barges and has joined another…[restrict] offshore bunkering company, Aegean Marine Petroleum Network, which in 2016 became the first and until now only licensed offshore bunker company operating in South African waters.
There are currently five Aegean tankers based out in Algoa Bay. They are:
The 6,321-dwt South African flagged bunker tanker LEFKAS (IMO 9417531); the 6262-dwt TILOS (IMO 9417945) flagged in Singapore; the 4641-dwt KIMOLOS (IMO 9371282); the Panama-flagged LEROS (IMO 9382152); plus the 105,400-dwt crude oil tanker UMNENGA 1 (IMO 9173733).
Next we have three other bunker type tankers that have been or are operating in Algoa Bay – Norbulk Shipping’s British owned 7414-dwt tanker ANUKET JADE (IMO 9393656); the Dutch-owned 9595-dwt ANUKET IVORY (IMO 9395745); and the Swiss-owned and managed 7267-dwt ANUKET CORAL (IMO 9395874) which however sailed a few days ago for Cape Town and then the ‘high seas’.
SAMF has its offices in the Coega Development Corporation’s Business Centre.[/restrict]
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HANSA HEAVYLIFT DELIVERS GIANT EGINA CAROUSEL TO NIGERIA
Hansa Heavy Lift (HHL) has transported a giant carousel together with eight reels, weighing a total of 3,508 metric tonnes, from Newcastle, United Kingdom to Lagos in Nigeria.
The consignment is destined for the Egina Oil Field.
The voyage took place on board the super heavy lift vessel HHL LAGOS, which was mobilised in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, to…[restrict] prepare the vessel with additional deck strength for the extra large carousel, which weighed over 2,200 metric tonnes including spooled product and had a diameter of over 25 metres.
“Close connection between the HHL engineering, superintendents and the vessels crew allowed for a fast deck reinforcement through the installation of additional underdeck stiffeners and a spooling platform,” said Tom Kröger, Project Engineer, HHL.
“Our in-house team of experienced naval architects carried out structural calculations to assess the structural integrity of the vessel.
“The team performed structural analyses to develop a tailor-made solution accordingly with the project related requirements and designed and installed bespoke shim-plates on deck to support Saipem with the accommodation of the carousel.”
Saipem in cooperation with HHL installed the empty carousel, which weighed 516 metric tonnes, together with the required equipment, on the vessel before sailing to Newcastle, where the cargo spooling took place.
The HHL team worked with Saipem upon arrival at the port of Lagos to achieve double banking with Saipem offshore construction vessel NORMAND MAXIMUS to unspool the products from the carousel.
“Hansa Heavy Lift was an excellent partner to work with on this project, and the team impressed us with its efficiency and high degree of detail,” said Olivier Credoz, who managed the chartering activities for the project from his desk in Paris.
“The strong cooperation between our team and Hansa Heavy Lift ensured a seamless project execution. We look forward to working with them again in the future.”
HHL specialises in the super heavy lift 900+ metric tonnes industry, delivering best-in-class engineering solutions to customers, particularly in the subsea, oil and gas, as well as the offshore wind farm sectors.
[/restrict]
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NIGERIA, AND LAGOS PORTS IN PARTICULAR, REMAIN DOMINANT PORTS OF WEST & CENTRAL AFRICA
Nigerian ports handle the bulk of all trade in West and the Central West Africa regions according to the Nigerian Ports Consultative Council (PCC).
This traffic is equal to 70 per cent of all formal trade – the figure would be higher if informal trade was included, says PCC chairman Kunle Folarin.
A total of 5,307 ships called at…[restrict] Nigerian ports in 2017, he said, adding that there was even greater potential with the cargo traffic flows to Nigeria’s landlocked neighbours such as Niger and Chad.
85 per cent of international trade entering Nigeria was through the seaports.
There was no question that the maritime sector in Nigeria was a major contributor to the economy and greater attention should be given when discussing port costs and charges.
He pointed out that in the 1970s the available port infrastructure in Lagos could only handle a limited number of vessels at a time, resulting in long queues of ships waiting to berth.
Ship owners incurred huge running costs which led to surcharges by the shipping companies.
In 1993 the Federal Government introduced a reform policy aimed at addressing the issue of rising costs with port and other logistical services.
The concessioning of terminals process started in 2006 was aimed at transferring operations of public sector activities to the private sector to improve productivity and achieve competitiveness at the ports.
Folarin said that there was a need for the port industry to be truly productive, competitive and earn a hub status in the region, adding that otherwise, Nigerian ports would continue to perform at best a little above average. source: ships&ports.com.ng[/restrict]
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MSC HONOURED FOR WHALE PROTECTION MEASURES
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Cordell Bank and Greater Farallones national marine sanctuaries, off the US Pacific coast, has recognised the Mediterranean Shipping Company’s (MSC) positive work in reducing vessel speeds for a cleaner environment and better marine wildlife safety.
The purpose of this speed-reduction program is to improve air quality, reduce risk of fatal whale strikes, and protect whales within…[restrict] National Marine Sanctuaries. Award recipients have set an industry example by voluntarily reducing vessel speeds in areas where endangered whale species regularly feed.
Being struck by large ships is one of the leading causes of whale mortality worldwide. The speed restrictions, during the period when whales migrate to the area, help to mitigate potential collisions in two ways: by reducing the risk of serious or fatal injuries if a strike does occur, and by increasing the odds that a whale will have sufficient time to react and avoid the collision.
“This is a great job and team effort by all involved, it reaffirms MSC’s commitment to protecting marine wildlife and preserving the biodiversity of our seas.” said Paolo Magnani, Executive Vice President, Marketing & Quality Control at MSC USA. “We are very proud to be part of the NOAA program and it is particularly noteworthy that MSC had more compliant vessels than any other operator in the program in 2017.”
MSC says it is committed to promote a sustainable use of the sea and marine resources, while extensively investing in the latest generation green technologies, to minimize the environmental impact of business activities on land, oceans and populations.
Comment
Perhaps a similar programme aimed at avoidance of collisions with migrating whales could come into effect along the South African east coast. At this time of year whales are migrating along this coast in increasing numbers to calve in the warmer waters of the southern Mozambique Channel before making their returns to the Antarctic waters later in the year.
This week the carcass of a juvenile whale washed up on the beach at Amanzimtoti, immediately south of Durban. The cause of death was not apparent and disposal of the carcass was undertaken before any examination could be carried out, but a collision with a ship remains a possibility.[/restrict]
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French-USA-based Infection Control Solutions expert aqua-tools says that cruiseship and ferry operators must do more to protect passengers from contracting Legionnaires’ disease and other infections from waterborne pathogens.
Concerned with the results from research that found higher levels of Legionella contamination in local ferries and cruiseships, aqua-tools’ CEO Marc Raymond said that…[restrict] while larger, newer passenger ferries and cruiseships have been built with preventive measures aimed at curbing the spread of Legionella, little has been done to protect passengers aboard smaller, older ships which, in many cases, are not well maintained.
The research paper to which Raymond refers is Legionella Risk Assessment in Cruiseships and Ferries, published in June 2017 by the US National Institutes of Health’s National Library of Medicine.
Researchers evaluated the frequency and severity of Legionella contamination on 10 ferries and six cruiseships alongside or in transiting the Port of Messina, Sicily. From the water and air samples tested for qualitative and quantitative identification of Legionella, the researchers found that Legionella pneumophila sg1 was present in samples of shower and tap water in 70% of the 10 ferries examined, and in 33% of the six cruiseships examined.
They found Legionella pneumophila sg 2-14 in 80% and 16.7% of these ships, respectively. And while no Legionella contamination was found in whirlpool baths, air and ice samples, they concluded that the “data confirmed higher levels of Legionella contamination in local ferries and cruiseships, underlining the need to adopt corrective actions more specific for these smaller vessels.”
“While the Norovirus continues to be the main cause of infection onboard passenger ships, Legionnaires disease, Pontiac fever and other infections from waterborne pathogens can be fatal,” said Raymond. “The high-risk points of use can expose passengers to an aerosolized form of water where water particles are inhaled. Aerosolization primarily occurs at shower heads and faucets. But infection can be prevented by simply installing FILT’RAY 2G Point-of-Use Filters on all outlets where water is intended for human use.”
To protect cruise and ferry passengers against nosocomial infection, aqua-tools has introduced its FILT’RAY 2G Point-of-Use Filters to the maritime market.
Certified for use and proven in municipal and shoreside establishments, the membrane technology rapidly secures Point-of-Use by preventing the discharge of waterborne pathogens from faucet, shower and inline filters. The technology meets ISO 9001:2008, ISO TS 16949:2012, and ISO 13485:2012 medical standards and has received a Certificate of Sanitary Compliance in France, Germany, Australia and are considered as Medical Device Class 1.
“Cruise ships are the equivalent of a ‘Public Building’ so they have to prevent and manage the risks with regulations specific to each country under which they are flagged,” said Raymond.[/restrict]
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NORTH AMERICA’S FIRST LNG BUNKER BARGE IS INTRODUCED
Conrad Industries, Inc announced this week the successful completion and delivery of the CLEAN JACKSONVILLE, the first LNG bunker barge built in North America.
The Clean Jacksonville was constructed in Orange, TX, at Conrad Orange Shipyard, a subsidiary of Conrad Industries, and the safe and successful gas trial execution took place in Port Fourchon, LA.
The vessel will enter service for TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico in the Port of Jacksonville, FL, where the vessel will bunker two Marlin Class containerships operating on LNG fuel.
“The successful completion and delivery of the Clean Jacksonville is both a proud and humbling moment for Conrad. I am proud of our team’s tenacious dedication to the completion of this project and unwavering adherence to our commitments. At the same time, we are humbled and grateful to be a part of an unparalleled international partnership comprised of the owner, our engineering groups, vendors and manufacturers who made this vessel a reality,” stated Brett Wolbrink, Vice President of Conrad LNG, LLC.
Of equal importance was the extensive collaboration with regulatory agencies to accomplish this industry first. Mr. Wolbrink went on to state, “We were fortunate to have such a good working relationship with the USCG and ABS throughout the design, engineering and construction of the LNG bunker barge.”
“Conrad has been at the helm of many firsts,” said Mr Johnny Conrad, President and CEO of Conrad Industries, Inc. “It is the first LNG bunker barge built in North America. It is the first time the GTT membrane system has been installed in a non-self-propelled barge in the US It is the first time an LNG bunker mast of this type has been built. The list goes on.”
“TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico is excited to utilise the Clean Jacksonville for our LNG bunkering. Our partners, including Conrad Shipyard and GTT, have been critical in our development of North America’s first LNG bunker barge. The use of LNG as a maritime fuel results in tremendous environmental benefits – including air and water quality improvements – and this barge is the final critical component of our LNG program in Jacksonville.” noted Tim Nolan, President and CEO of TOTE.
Mr Philippe Berterottière, Chairman and CEO of GTT, added: “GTT has been honoured to play a key role in the successful delivery of this first US LNG bunker barge by Conrad. The broad collaboration between TOTE, Conrad, the myriad project stakeholders, and US regulators led to the successful design, construction, and commissioning of this unique and groundbreaking project. Beyond our traditional role of designing the cargo containment and other cryogenic elements, such as the innovative REACH4™ bunker mast, GTT adapted and expanded its support services to ensure the effective training of the barge crew and the safe and satisfactory execution of the barge commissioning activities and gas trials.
“Adapting to meet the requirements and fill the gaps within this growing industry is essential to continue to develop LNG as the preferred and cleaner marine fuel of the future. GTT remains committed to that vision.”
Conrad concluded by saying that while it has been a challenge and true learning experience, the Clean Jacksonville is a triumph for the US Maritime industry. “I am proud of Conrad’s commitment, investment and foresight in shepherding the advancement of LNG as a marine fuel. We welcome the opportunity to work with customers as they explore and pursue the use of LNG in their vessels.”
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EXPECTED SHIP ARRIVALS and SHIPS IN PORT
Port Louis – Indian Ocean gateway port
Ports & Ships publishes regularly updated SHIP MOVEMENT reports including ETAs for ports extending from West Africa to South Africa to East Africa and including Port Louis in Mauritius.
In the case of South Africa’s container ports of Durban, Ngqura, Ports Elizabeth and Cape Town links to container Stack Dates are also available.
You can access this information, including the list of ports covered, by going HERE remember to use your BACKSPACE to return to this page.
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CRUISE NEWS AND NAVAL ACTIVITIES
QM2 in Cape Town. Picture by Ian Shiffman
We publish news about the cruise industry here in the general news section.
Naval News
Similarly you can read our regular Naval News reports and stories here in the general news section.
PIC OF THE DAY : CITY OF SHANGHAI
The Maersk-charter ship CITY OF SHANGHAI (IMO 9434450) enters the Port of Durban earlier in August with her cargo of containers for discharge. The 212-metre long, 30m wide vessel is owned by German interests and managed by Conship Management GMBH of Emden-Ostfriesland in Germany and was built in 2009 at the Xiamen Shipyard in China as the yard’s hull or yard number XSI402C. The 34,269-dwt ship has a container capacity of 2578 TEUs and flies the flag of Antigua and Barbuda. This picture is by Trevor Jones
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
“The human mind is inspired enough when it comes to inventing horrors; it is when it tries to invent a Heaven that it shows itself cloddish.”
– Evelyn Waugh
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