Guinea News

Tema Port T3 Welcomes First Cargo Vessel

The first commercial vessel, Maersk Cape Coast has docked at the Terminal 3 at Tema Port after 3 years of expansion and modernization works to complete the first two berths.The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, which operates the harbor is located along the Gulf of Guinea, said that with the state-of-the-art technology and equipment, 1,427 containers were discharged and 730 containers loaded.Incidentally, Maersk Cape Coast was inaugurated and christened at the port of Tema in 2011.

Piracy: West Africa, World's Most Dangerous Seas

The seas off West Africa's coastline are now the most dangerous in the world for shipping, the International Maritime Bureau’s (IMB) latest report revealed.According to the report, of the 75 seafarers taken hostage onboard or kidnapped for ransom worldwide so far this year, 62 were captured in the Gulf of Guinea – off the coasts of Nigeria, Guinea, Togo, Benin and Cameroon.The IMB Piracy Reporting Center (IMB PRC) recorded 78 incidents of piracy worldwide and armed robbery against ships in the first half of 2019, compared with 107 incidents for the same period of 2018.

Mitsui, JOGMEC join Arctic LNG-2

Japanese trading house Mitsui & Co and state-owned Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) have signed a sales and purchase agreement with Russia’s Novatek for a 10% participation interest in the Arctic LNG 2 project.The share will be acquired through the Dutch Company, Japan Arctic LNG B.V., in which Mitsui has invested jointly with JOGMEC. The equity ratio of JOGMEC and Mitsui will be set at 75 percent and 25 percent respectively.The project will develop natural…

FuelTrax 'Vision' for SPO

Swire has installed FuelTrax Vision, a new onboard surveillance system.Swire Pacific Offshore, a marine services conglomerate and a leading service provider to the offshore oil and gas industry currently operates six vessels with FuelTrax on board, two of which have been installed with the latest FuelTrax Vision technology. The two FuelTrax Vision systems have been preforming without disruption since December 2018.FuelTrax is designed to be a smart, self-contained, marine fuel management solution…

Global Piracy Up in 2018, Gulf of Guinea Leads

Piracy increased on the world’s seas in 2018, with a marked rise in attacks against ships and crews around West Africa, the International Chamber of Commerce’s International Maritime Bureau’s (IMB) latest annual piracy report reveals.Worldwide, the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre (PRC) recorded 201 incidents of maritime piracy and armed robbery in 2018, up from 180 in 2017.The Gulf of Guinea remains increasingly dangerous for seafarers. Reports of attacks in waters between the Ivory Coast and the Democratic Republic of Congo more than doubled in 2018…

IMO Provides Fellowships for Women in Ports

International Maritime Organization (IMO)  has provided fellowships to ten female officials attending a Port Senior Management Programme held at the Galilee International Management Institute (GIMI) in Nahalal, Israel, (14 -27 November). "A successful and well-run port contributes to the sustainable economic development of its region. But what is also an economic no-brainer is female empowerment. We provide fellowship to address both these points," said a statement from IMO.The two-week course provides participants with key information and updates on innovations in the port industry.

West Africa to Promote Electronic Data Exchange for Vessels

Ships and ports will need to be able to exchange arrival and departure data electronically from April 2019, under International Maritime Organization (IMO)'s Facilitation Convention said a press note.There requirements also encourage the use of a single window in which all the many agencies and authorities involved exchange data via a single point of contact. Training in the treaty requirements took place during national seminars in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea (13-15 November) and in Nouakchott, Mauritania (20-22 November).

Shipping Community Announces Mercy Ships Cargo Day Goal

Mercy Ships Cargo Day, an annual event established by the worldwide shipping community in 2016, has announced a $1 million target goal for 2018.The event, held Oct. 3, provides the opportunity for the shipping and trading community around the world to donate 50 percent of its commission on cargoes (Mercy Cargoes) or to make a direct financial contribution to Mercy Ships. Mercy Ships operates the world’s largest private hospital ship, the Africa Mercy, staffed by volunteers who provide free life-changing surgeries in Africa.

Missing Tanker Docks in Togo after Suspected Hijacking

A tanker with 19 crew members on board has docked at a port in Togo after going missing for over a week in a suspected hijacking off the West African coast, the crew's agency said on Friday.The Ialkani agency and the ship's managers lost communication with the Panama-registered Pantelena on August 14, when it was about 17 miles (27 km) from the port of Libreville, in Gabon.Two Russian nationals and 17 Georgians were aboard the vessel, a dual purpose oil or chemicals tanker managed by Athens-based Lotus Shipping.

China Navigation Company Opens Vancouver Branch

China Navigation Company (CNCo), part of the Swire Group, has expanded its presence in North America by establishing a branch office in Vancouver, Canada.The opening ceremony was graced by Bruce Ralston, Minister of Jobs, Trade & Technology, British Columbia, who unveiled a plaque in the CNCo office located at W Hastings Street.Minister Bruce Ralston said, “The Province recognises the significant contribution that The China Navigation Company makes to the shipping industry worldwide.

Transinsular Reinforces Connection Between Europe and Africa

The Lince Class service from Transinsular, a GRUPO ETE company, will start to call Total Terminal International Algeciras (TTI) from August 23, 2018, opening a direct link from the Spanish mainland to Cape Verde (Praia and Mindelo), that will also serve as a cargo transshipment hub for the Mediterranean, namely other ports in Spain, as well as Italy, Greece and Turkey.The strengthening of the Lince Class with a new call in the European continent (it already links Leixões and Lisbon to Cape Verde)…

ICTSI Income Falls as Volume Rises

Philippines-based International Container Terminal Services Inc (ICTSI)  has announced a 6% decrease in income in its consolidated financial results for the first half of 2018.However, the port operator saw overall throughput rise 4% to 4.7m teu in the first half compared to 4.5m teu handled in the previous corresponding period in 2017, mainly on robust trade in the emerging markets and contributions from new terminals in Lae and Motukea in Papua New Guinea and the Australian…

Papua New Guinea LNG Export Plant Offers Cargo for September

Exxon Mobil's Papua New Guinea liquefied natural gas (LNG) export plant has offered a cargo for delivery in September, two industry sources said on Tuesday.The cargo is to be delivered into Japan, Taiwan, South Korea or China, and the tender closes on Wednesday with bids to remain valid until Thursday, one of the sources said.This is expected to provide some relief to the spot market at a time when spot demand from Japan and South Korea has been firm due to warm temperature, traders said.(Reporting by Jessica Jaganathan; Editing by Tom Hogue)

35 Seafarers Kidnapped in Gulf of Guinea in 2018 -Report

Nigerian pirates have kidnapped 35 seafarers from vessels in the Gulf of Guinea so far this year, according to security firm EOS Risk Group.Nigeria continues to be the world’s epicenter for piracy activity. From January through June 2018, EOS recorded 34 Nigerian pirate attacks on merchant and fishing vessels in the Gulf of Guinea. These attacks resulted in the kidnap of 35 seafarers for ransom and the hijacking of several vessels, EOS Risk Group disclosed in its half year review…

ITC Global Extends Contract with Medical Ship Nonprofit

ITC Global, a provider of satellite communications to remote and harsh environments, has announced its three-year contract extension with Youth With A Mission Medical Ships Australia, Ltd (YWAM MSA). Under terms of the agreement, ITC Global will provide critical connectivity services to the nonprofit’s medical ship serving the Papua New Guinea (PNG) region, along with new crew welfare services for staff leisure use not previously available to the YWAM team. The all-volunteer-operated vessel based in Townsville…

Piracy Risk Persists in Gulf of Guinea -Report

The second quarterly report from the ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB) shows that all 2018 crew kidnappings have so far occurred in the Gulf of Guinea in six separate incidents.A total of 107 incidents were reported to the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre (PRC) in the first six months of 2018. In total, 69 vessels were boarded, with 23 attempted attacks, 11 vessels fired upon and four vessels hijacked. No vessels were reported as hijacked in the second quarter.The number of crewmembers…

Fujian Shipbuilding Terminates Nautilus’ Shipbuilding Contract

Fujian Mawei Shipbuilding has canceled the construction contract for the Nautilus Minerals’ Production Support Vessel (PSV), a part of the Nautilus’ Solwara 1 project located offshore Papua New Guinea. "We have been notified by Fujian Mawei Shipbuilding, the owner of the shipyard where Nautilus’ PSV is being built, that the Shipyard has rescinded the shipbuilding contract between the Shipyard and MAC Goliath, the contractor engaged by Nautilus to procure the construction of the PSV on behalf of Nautilus," said a press release from the company.

Adriatic LNG Receives 600th Cargo

Adriatic LNG, the company which operates the regasification terminal located off the Veneto coastline, announces the arrival of the 600th carrier, the Al Jassasiya. The carrier left Ras Laffan Port in Qatar, delivering a cargo of about 140,000 cubic meters of liquefied natural gas (LNG), equivalent to nearly 85 million cubic meters of gas. The event was celebrated on the terminal with a brief ceremony that involved the vessel's personnel and Adriatic LNG's staff, including the Operations Manager Fabian Erle, who delivered a recognition to Georgios Pissaris, the Captain of the Al Jassasiya.

Kutubu Light Crude Oil Exports to Resume in Spot Trade

Sales of Kutubu Light crude oil cargoes will resume in the Asia spot market in July after a major earthquake in Papua New Guinea shut production from late February to early April, three industry sources said on Monday.While production at the facility resumed in early April, producers of the light crude oil have been trying to meet previously committed cargoes to buyers which had been delayed due to the earthquake, one of the people said.The sources declined to be identified because…

Thailand Emerges as an International Maritime Training Center

Since mid 2015 when MCA first approved a Thailand based seafarer training facility, that destination has experienced growth as a popular focus for both advanced seafarers and also entry level crew to complete STCW 2010 and the new updating STCW courses.Anthony Gould, CEO and major investor in Galileo Maritime Academy, said at the recent launch of their Survival Craft and Fast Rescue Boats training facility in Phuket, “Over the last three years international professional seafarers coming to Phuket…

Bollore Under Formal Investigation in Africa Graft Probe

A French judge on Wednesday placed tycoon Vincent Bollore under formal investigation over allegations his company undercharged for work on behalf of presidential candidates in two African nations in return for port contracts.Bollore's company, Groupe Bollore, announced the decision by Judge Serge Tournaire, which came after Bollore had been questioned for two days by French fraud police.Bollore, whose logistics empire is a powerhouse in former French colonies across West Africa…

Oldendorff Halts Guyana Operation Due to Rusal Crisis

German shipping group Oldendorff Carriers is stopping its business in Guyana, the company said on Friday, after the United States blacklisted Russian aluminum producer Rusal, which has a plant in the South American country.The United States on April 6 imposed sanctions against Russian entities and individuals to punish Moscow for its alleged meddling in the 2016 U.S. election and what the U.S. Treasury Department dubbed other "malign activity".Since then, the world's two biggest…

Pirate Attacks Worsen in Gulf of Guinea - IMB

A surge in armed attacks against ships around West Africa is pushing up global levels of piracy and armed robbery at sea, warns the International Chamber of Commerce's International Maritime Bureau (IMB). IMB's Piracy Reporting Center recorded 66 incidents in the first quarter of 2018, up from 43 for the same period in 2017, and 37 in Q1 2016. Worldwide in the first three months of 2018, 100 crew were taken hostage and 14 kidnapped from their vessels. A total of 39 vessels were boarded, 11 fired upon and four vessels hijacked. IMB received a further 12 reports of attempted attacks.

Noho-Magae Supports ICTSI in Motukea

Noho-Magae, an organization representing the Baruni and Tatana communities in Papua New Guinea, has thrown its full support behind International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) subsidiary ICTSI South Pacific, joining as shareholders of Motukea International Terminal in Port Moresby. Representing the Noho-Magae organization, Iduhu Erue Igo, Baruni Community Development Association (BACODA) chairman, and Tom Lancan, Tatana-Araira Development Association (TADA) deputy chairman, signed the agreement formalizing the respective communities as shareholders.

Abuja MOU to Enhance Shipping Standards in West, Central Africa

In a bid to harmonize port state control inspection procedures that will lead to the elimination of substandard shipping in the West and Central Africa sub-region, the Abuja Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will host its 3rd Ministerial Conference and 9th Port state Control Committee Meeting with the aim of developing a unified system of Port State Control inspection procedure for the region. The Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control for West and Central African Region…

CNCo, SPREP Ink Recycling MOU for Pacific Islands

The China Navigation Company (CNCo) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment (SPREP) have today signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to address critical waste management issues in the Pacific islands. Known as the “Moana Taka Partnership”, this MOU allows for CNCo vessels to carry containers of recyclable waste from eligible Pacific island ports, pro bono, to be sustainably treated and recycled in suitable ports in Asia Pacific. “This historic partnership will be of great benefit to our Pacific islands…