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
Monday (today) 24 September is Heritage Day, a public holiday in South Africa, a.k.a National Braai Day. Our next edition will appear tomorrow (Tuesday 25) September 2018
TODAY’S BULLETIN OF MARITIME NEWS
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- First View : SANTA URSULA
- BREAKING NEWS: TRAGEDY ON LAKE VICTORIA AS MV NYERERE CAPSIZES UPDATED
- Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan welcomes court judgement on Transnet
- Incat Crowther and Veecraft to build SA Navy workboat
- Bagamoyo port back on again as China Merchants Holdings International renews interest
- Russia a major destination for SA fresh produce exports
- International Association of Maritime Economists elects new president
- Investors across the world think twice before investing in Djibouti, says DP World
- Joint Search and Rescue exercise conducted off Cape coast
- Damco supply chain business to be integrated within Maersk Line
- EU NAVFOR strengthening ties with Madagascar
- Expected Ship Arrivals and Ships in Port
- Cruise News and Naval Activities
- Pic of the Day : CROWN TOPAZ
- The masthead today (Tuesday) is of the Port of Durban, Island View
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The Hamburg Süd container ship SANTA URSULA (IMO 9430387), which is now owned, managed and operated by Maersk Line and incorporated into Maersk Line services, is shown here sailing from the Port of Durban recently with rather less than her maximum 7,850 TEU capacity would allow. The 301-metre long, 40m wide, 93,025-dwt container ship was built in 2012 at the Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Ltd yard in South Korea as yard number 4079. This picture is by Trevor Jones
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BREAKING NEWS: TRAGEDY ON LAKE VICTORIA AS MV NYERERE CAPSIZES * updated – see below
More than a hundred people* are feared to have drowned when the Lake Victoria ferry MV NYERERE capsized while on a routine journey between the islands of Ukora and Bugolora.
- The death toll in the tragedy has now exceeded 224, according to latest reports, with fears that the number of people who died when the ferry capsized may rise even further. Reports now say that up to 400 passengers were crowded on the MV Nyerere on the fatal voyage. The ferry is supposed to carry 100 passengers. (Sunday 16h00)
Although licensed to carry a hundred passengers it is thought the Nyerere was carrying far more than this number. Cargo on board included maize and cement. So far 44 deaths 224 deaths have been acknowledged by Tanzanian officials, being the bodies recovered. One person has been found alive, trapped in an air pocket in the overturned ferry (updated Sunday).
Reports say that 37 people had been rescued this afternoon, some with serious injuries or suffering from near drowning and were receiving treatment.
Rescuers were busy late this afternoon and into the early evening looking for survivors. Further rescue efforts have been called off until first light on Friday morning 21 September.
The ferries that operate on the lake and other waterway systems in Central and East Africa are notorious for overloading that takes place, although it cannot be confirmed this was the case in this instance.
Reports say that the ticket clerk was travelling on the ferry when it capsized together with the records of the number of passengers on board. The ferry was approaching the ferry station when the tragedy occurred. It is possible that passengers surged to one side of the vessel as the landing dock was being neared.
Tanzanian President John Magufuli has sent his condolences to relatives of the victims.
MV Nyerere is operated by the Tanzania Electrical, Mechanical & Electronics Services Agency (TEMESA). Report added Thursday 20 September 2018 21h30, updated Friday 16h00
[1:06] KTV YouTube
PUBLIC ENTERPRISES MINISTER PRAVIN GORDHAN WELCOMES COURT JUDGEMENT ON TRANSNET
Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan has welcomed the high court’s decision to dismiss Seth Radebe’s application challenging his removal from office in Transnet.
On Tuesday, the Gauteng Division of the High Court in Pretoria dismissed an application by Radebe who had sought an order to set aside the decision by the Minister of Public Enterprises, Pravin Gordhan, to remove him from the Transnet board.
:The Ministry of Public Enterprises welcomes the judgment, in particular, the emphasis it places on the need to urgently restore good corporate governance at state-owned companies like Transnet, given their position and role in the South African economy,” said the Ministry on Tuesday evening.
Radebe was appointed to the post at the rail, port and pipeline company in December 2017.
In the judgement, Judge Hans J Fabricius rejected this application describing it as “rather vague”.
Gordhan said Radebe’s litigation was frivolous and devoid of fact and truth.
The court observed a lack of decisive actions by the previous board against Transnet employees implicated in corruption, specifically in the 1,064 locomotives tender.
The court accepted legal arguments that investigation reports by Werksmans Attorneys and Professor H E Wainer were “incomplete” but maintained this “did not mean that they were inconclusive and could not be acted upon.”
Radebe argued, amongst others, that Gordhan’s decision to remove him as one of the last three directors on the previous Transnet board by May this year was a racist act. Gordhan, who took the helm of the Department of Public Enterprises, which is the shareholder in Transnet and six other state owned companies, announced a new Transnet board in May.
Radebe was the only former director who approached the court to seek such relief.
The High Court dismissed his arguments in their entirety.
Judge Fabricius stated that he could not find that the Minister’s decision to remove Radebe was racially motivated or that it could be regarded as racial discrimination.
“Today’s judgment confirms our belief that the previous board failed to demonstrate an appreciation of the seriousness of allegations of maladministration and corruption or the ability to deal with these decisively in order to protect the institution,” said Gordhan.
The court further rejected Radebe’s arguments that he is entitled to a board position by virtue of his academic qualification. – SAnews.gov.za
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INCAT CROWTHER & VEECRAFT TO BUILD SA NAVY WORKBOAT
Australian-based shipbuilder Incat Crowther has announced a design contract with Cape Town based shipbuilder Veecraft Marine for the supply of a 20 metre monohull workboat for the South African National Defense Force.
The vessel will be tasked with the transportation of personnel and equipment and support training activities in coastal areas up to 10 miles off the coast under…[restrict] inclement weather conditions often experienced in the area. The vessel is designed in accordance with BV requirements and in compliance with flag state rules as defined by South African Maritime Authority (SAMSA) for Category C vessels.
The main deck features a forward deckhouse with wheelhouse above and a generous 25m2 aft cargo deck. The modestly sized deckhouse is fitted with galley and mess areas along with two bathrooms and a deck locker accessible from the cargo deck. The wheelhouse is arranged for 360-degree visibility, including an unobstructed view of the cargo deck.
The cargo deck of the aluminium vessel is able to accommodate a 6-metre ISO container and is also fitted with a 5-ton marine crane. A foldable dive platform is fitted aft of the transom along with stairs integrated into the main deck to provide safe access.
Below deck includes two 7.5 cubic metre cargo holds with access hatches above, engine room, fuel and water tanks, and a crew accommodation space. The crew accommodation features three staterooms each with three bunks for a total capacity of twelve crew members.
Other notable features include a robust fender system and heavy towing bollards on each end of the vessel.
With a modest service speed of 16 knots at a healthy deadweight load of 20 tonnes, the vessel will be powered by two (2) MAN D2862 LE431 marine engines rated at 588kw @ 1800 rpm driving Teignbridge fixed pitch propellers through ZF 2050 gearboxes.
The vessel will be the sixteenth Incat Crowther vessel built by Veecraft in less than a decade and further demonstrates the versatility of both organisations to deliver custom solutions tailored to unique and demanding requirements.
Vessel Specifications
Design No: IC16208
Platform: Monohull
Length Overall: 20.0m
Length Waterline: 19.4m
Beam: 5.5m
Draft Hull: 1.2m
Draft Max: 1.2m
Depth: 2.8m
Passengers: 16
Crew: 4
Fuel: 9,000 litres
Fresh Water: 2,000 litres
Sullage: 500 litres
Service Speed: 16 knots
Maximum Speed: 19 knots
Main Engines: 2 x MAN D2862 LE431
Installed Power: 2 x 551kW @ 1800rpm
Generators: 1 x Kohler 10.0 kVa
Construction Material: Marine grade aluminium
Flag: South Africa
Class: BV / SAMSA[/restrict]
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BAGAMOYO PORT BACK ON AGAIN AS CHINA MERCHANTS HOLDINGS INTERNATIONAL RENEWS INTEREST
The ambitious on/off Port Bagamoyo project may be back on again after Chinese port management firm China Merchants Holdings International (CHMI) revealed interest in reviving failed talks with the Tanzanian Government.
The port and adjacent Special Economic Zone (SEZ) was announced in 2013 but any thought of the project going ahead failed when CHMI and the government were unable to agree terms.
According to reports coming from Tanzania now, an agreement appears…[restrict] to have been reached with Tanzania’s Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa o renew talks about building the port and SEZ.
Reports by IPP Media quoted CHMI managing director Hua Jianhua as saying that although the project represents a high risk for Chinese investors the company is “willing to work together with the government and people of Tanzania to build the Bagamoyo Special Economic Zone.”
This followed discussions with the prime minister and his delegation who were visiting Beijing recently.
Mr Majaliwa said the proposed port and special economic zone were important for Tanzania’s continued economic growth and that the government was still open to discussions with potential project partners. He directed relevant government authorities to begin serious talks with CMHI as well as another partner from Oman. “This may help us all reach a conclusion that would allow the project start as soon as possible,” he said.
Tanzania would like full ownership control of the US$10 billion port and SEZ but lacks the finance. A three-way partnership deal signed with Oman and China in 2013 enabled Tanzania to receive an undisclosed shareholding in the project by dint of raising $28 million for compensating landowners who were to be displaced.
Tanzania was unable to raise this amount and only collected a reported $1.5 million – not sufficient to compensate the 2,180 registered residents of the area covered by the project. Absent landowners had yet to be registered for compensation under the project plan.
CMHI has indicated that it will raise the money required for compensation but would then want to run Bagamoyo as one of its overseas ports. CMHI’s global investment portfolio which in Africa includes Kenya, Ethiopia, Togo, Nigeria and Djibouti.
The proposed Bagamoyo port project and industrial zone is located about 75 kilometres from Dar es Salaam and 10 kilometres from Bagamoyo town. About 190 industries have been marked for development within the SEZ which, once fully developed, is expected to attract about 700 industries and become a strategic investment zone in East Africa.
Among projects envisaged for the zone are industrial parks worth $120 million, a $70 million tourism park, free port facilities ($ 90 million), a free trade zone ($70 million), science and technology parks ($ 50 million), an international business centre ($70 million), and industrial sheds costing $20 million. source: IPP Media, TMEA[/restrict]
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RUSSIA A MAJOR DESTINATION FOR SOUTH AFRICAN FRESH PRODUCE EXPORTS
Russia continues to be an important market for South African fresh produce, says the Fresh Produce Exporters’ Forum (FPEF).
“Russia continues to be an important market for us, as 10% out of 2.7 million tons of fresh fruit exported from South Africa goes to Russia,” said the forum’s CEO, Anton Kruger, on Wednesday.
Kruger is part of the Department of Trade and Industry’s delegation that is…[restrict] participating in the World Food Moscow trade fair, which got underway on Monday in the Russian capital.
The dti-led delegation of businesspeople forms part of the department’s efforts to promote South Africa’s agro-processing industry in order to consolidate and establish market presence of local goods in Russia.
Kruger said the South African pavilion at the fair adds value for the FPEF, which is a voluntary, non-profit organisation with more than 130 members, accounting for about 90% of fresh produce exported from South Africa.
Kruger, who also represents the Export Council for the Fresh Produce Industry in South Africa, said since 2017, they have seen a steady export growth in pears, apples and table grapes, although the bulk of exports is still citrus.
He said the council is engaging with the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and is addressing the labelling issue. This follows the decision by the Euro Agent Commission to introduce new labelling requirements. The decision added a lot of cost and additional efforts for South Africa to export its fresh produce.
Kruger said while 10% out of 2.7 million tons of fresh fruit is exported from South Africa to Russia, this took a dip in 2016 to around 6% as a result of the labelling requirements.
He said since 2017, the volumes have picked up again to 10%.
“We are working towards Russia accepting South Africa’s electronic digital barcoded certificates, which is what we are aiming for our members. There will be another meeting with the Russian Custom Authority to address that.”
He noted that there is potential for South African grown avocados to be exported to Russia.
“We noticed that there is a big opportunity for us to introduce avocados and test the Russian market,” said Kruger.
Meanwhile, export sales generated from South Africa’s participation in last year’s fair amounted to R56 million.
South Africa’s exports to Russia increased from R4.1 billion in 2016 to more than R4.7 billion in 2017. Major South African exports include edible fruits and nuts, beverages, spirits and vinegar, manganese ores, products of iron and steel, vehicles, electrical machinery and equipment.
The annual World Food Moscow last year hosted 1,433 exhibitors from 65 countries specialising in food and beverage products, with 78% of the exhibitors reporting that they had return of investment from exhibiting at the show.
The fair will conclude today (Thursday). – SAnews.gov.za[/restrict]
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INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MARITIME ECONOMISTS ELECTS NEW PRESIDENT
IAME, the International Association of Maritime Economists, has elected Professor Thanos Pallis as its new President. The announcement was made during the IAME 2018 Annual Conference which was held in Mombasa, Kenya, last week.
Established in 1992, IAME is an international forum for the exchange of research and information among those interested in maritime and maritime related issues, from all over the world. The Association today has a membership spanning…[restrict] all continents and is officially linked to two leading academic journals in the field: Maritime Policy & Management and Maritime Economics & Logistics.
The IAME Conference, its annual flagship event, has been staged in all five continents, with IAME 2019 scheduled to take place in Athens, Greece.
Thanos Pallis is Professor of Port Economics and Policy at the Department of Shipping, Trade and Transport, University of the Aegean, Greece, and co-director of PortEconomics. A Fulbright scholar at Columbia University, NY, he has worked in port and maritime related projects in different continents, while he has been secretary general of the association of Mediterranean cruise ports, MedCruise.
IAME also elected its new Council for 2018-2020, with Professor Michaël Dooms (University of Brussels, Belgium) and Professor Jasmine Siu Lee Lam (Nanyang Technology University, Singapore), elected as IAME Vice-Presidents, and the full synthesis of the Council being as follows:
* Michaël Dooms (University of Brussels, Belgium), Vice-President
* Jasmine Siu Lee Lam (Nanyang Technological University, Singapore), Vice-President
* Michele Acciaro (Kuhne Logistics University, Germany)
* Roar Adland (Norwegian School of Economics, Norway)
* Okan Duru (Nanyang Technological University, Singapore)
* Manolis Kavussanos (Athens University of Economics & Business, Greece)
* Adolf Ng (University of Manitoba, Canada)<br*>* Theo Notteboom (Shanghai Maritime Universit*y, China)
* Giovanni Satta (University of Genoa, Italy*)
* Gordon Wilmsmeier (Universidad de los And*es, Colombia)
* Jan Hoffman (UNCTAD), President Emeritus*
Commenting on his election Thanos Pallis said “IAME has been the Association providing a most valuable platform to scholars and economists interested in the maritime world. It has been an effective network for all, driven by its members and those that have taken the responsibility to voluntarily serve the Association as Council members and presidents. From that perspective I am sincerely honoured to serve as its next president. Along with the Council members we will continue the work to make IAME an even more treasured Association in the coming years.”
Thanos Pallis replaces Dr Jan Hoffman (UNCTAD), who has served as President since 2014, and will continue to serve the IAME Council as President Emeritus. Commenting on Jan Hoffman leadership Thanos Pallis said, “On behalf of all IAME members I would like to express our sincere thanks and appreciation to Jan, as well as to previous presidents, for their work, inspiration, and commitment to make IAME more dynamic than ever.”
Further details on IAME can be found at: www.mar-economists.org[/restrict]
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INVESTORS ACROSS THE WORLD SHOULD THINK TWICE BEFORE INVESTING IN DJIBOUTI, SAYS DP WORLD
[2:15] The above is a videographic press release expressing the views of DP World in the matter of rights to the Doraleh port terminal. We welcome the views of both parties in this ongoing dispute which has been the subject of the London Court of Arbitration and the English High Court and much debate affecting contractual rights of the terminal operator and sovereign rights of the state. Note there is no sound on the video so don’t adjust your volume. We regret this video has been withdrawn from YouTube. No reason is available but draw your own conclusions (Friday 21 September 2018).
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JOINT MARITIME SEARCH AND RESCUE EXERCISE CONDUCTED OFF CAPE COAST
A full scale Maritime Search and Rescue exercise was conducted yesterday (Wednesday) off the Cape coast.
Participating in the exercise were National Sea Rescue (NSRI), Headquarters, NSRI Hout Bay, NSRI Table Bay and NSRI ASR (Airborne Sea Rescue).
The joint Maritime Search and Rescue exercise was coordinated by MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) involving MRCC, TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority), Telkom Maritime Radio Services, the SA Navy, the SA Air Force 22 Squadron, SA Defence Force Military Operations Centres, Western Cape (WC) Government Health EMS and NSRI.
The exercise was conducted off the Cape Town coast, deep sea, and in the Granger Bay region and involved various search and rescue scenarios, patient evacuations, deploying sea rescue craft, SA Navy ships, an SA Air Force 22 Squadron Oryx helicopter and employing rescue techniques and inter service cooperation in routine training exercises.
The Maritime Search and Rescue exercise was launched at 07h00 and was completed at 15h30.
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DAMCO SUPPLY CHAIN BUSINESS TO BE INTEGRATED WITHIN MAERSK LINE
DAMCO Supply Chain Services and Maersk Line’s Ocean Product is to be integrated and their respective value-added services will be combined and sold as Maersk products and services, as from 1 January 2019.
A.P. Moller – Maersk said yesterday that this is to ensure an improved customer experience with fewer touchpoints and a more comprehensive service offering.
The company described the move as the next step in the Maersk journey to become a global, integrated container transport and logistics company.
The integrated commercial organisation will…[restrict] operate with one management team, one sales force, a strong product organisation and one customer experience organisation, headed by Vincent Clerc, Chief Commercial Officer of Maersk. Klaus Rud Sejling, CEO of Damco, will take on a new position as Head of Maersk’s Logistics and Services Products, reporting to CCO, Vincent Clerc.
“Today we are taking further steps in the transformation of our business on a structural level and how we go to market, enabling us to offer more solutions to our customers in a simpler way,” said Søren Skou, CEO of A.P. Moller – Maersk.
“Our employees play a key role in making this happen and therefore we are at the same time empowering our frontline organisation who is closest to our customers.”
The regional organisations will be responsible for solutions engineering and product bundling to ensure that the company can take decisions faster.
Damco’s freight forwarding business, which serves customers requiring air freight or multi-carrier options in ocean freight, will continue to be run as a separate and independent business under the Damco brand.
By allowing Damco to focus fully on freight forwarding, A.P. Moller – Maersk aims to build a well performing and global freight forwarding business that can grow and prosper. Saskia Groen In’t Woud who is is currently Chief Operating Officer in Damco will be the CEO of Damco Freight Forwarding.
In addition to these changes, three of A.P. Moller – Maersk’s regional carrier brands, including MCC Transport, Sealand and Seago Line will go to market as ‘SeaLand – A Maersk Company’ as of 1 October 2018. The simplified naming structure for these brands is intended to help strengthen brand recognition and ensure clarity of choice for customers.
“This integration marks a big milestone on Maersk’s current growth journey towards operating as one integrated company,” Skou said. “We are in a strong position to deliver solutions that meet our customers end-to-end supply chain management needs, thereby tapping into markets covering the whole journey from producer to consumer by building on our business strengths.”[/restrict]
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EU NAVFOR STRENTHENING TIES WITH MADAGASCAR
EU NAVFOR says it continues to encourage key partners in the region (North-Western Indian Ocean & Gulf of Aden) to coordinate efforts and to share information effectively about maritime security.
“Our Flagship ESPS Castilla and her crew have visited Madagascar to attend a series of discussions with senior leaders on how the nation is developing and…[restrict] the maritime challenges they currently face” EU NAVFOR said yesterday.
Between 13 and 14 September 2018, EU NAVFOR’s Force Commander, Rear Admiral Alfonso Perez de Nanclares and a delegation from ESPS Castilla visited Military Region Command where they met with Defence Minister, Général Béni Xavier Rasolofonirina. They then visited Antsiranana Naval Base where they met with Captain Sam Hieng Twion, here they also attended a parade.
Political and Military authorities were then invited to visit ESPS Castilla for capability briefs and discussions. “The ship was honoured to host the Madagascan Prime Minster, Christian Ntsay and his delegation, along with the President of the National Assembly, Freddy Mahazoasy.”
The engagements that EU NAVFOR conducts with regional partners are a key element in strengthening maritime security in the wide area of operations that includes the Gulf of Aden and the Western Indian Ocean.
Protection of vulnerable shipping, deterring and repressing piracy remains EU NAVFOR’s main priority.
[/restrict]
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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.
The refrigerated cargo ship (reefer) CROWN TOPAZ (IMO 9191498) arrives in Durban to load a cargo of citrus. Looking in need of a paint brush or two, the reefer is now 21 years in service and currently in service with Cool Carriers AB of Stockholm Sweden, where the ship is also registered. Crown Topaz is 152 metres in length and 23m wide. She is flagged in the Bahamas. This picture is by Trevor Jones
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
“In general people experience their present naively, as it were, without being able to form an estimate of its contents; they have first to put themselves at a distance from it — the present, that is to say, must have become the past — before it can yield points of vantage from which to judge the future.”
– Sigmund Freud, The Future of an Illusion
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