South Africa News

PORT PROFILE: Big Baltimore

The Port of Baltimore is poised to muscle its way into the nation’s elite top 10 ports. How that happened really isn’t hard to understand. That’s because what comes next will be the dividend of many years of focused planning.The Port of Baltimore consists of state owned marine terminals managed by the MPA and privately owned marine terminals. Approximately 90 percent of all general cargo tons move through the MPA’s public terminals, while the private terminals handled most of the Port’s bulk commodities.In 2018, the Port of Baltimore (POB) experienced a record year in foreign cargo tons.

Grindrod Sells NWK Stake

South African freight and logistics company Grindrod signed an agreement to sell its 20.3% stake in grain services provider NWK to NWK Holdings for R204-million (USD 14 million).According to the press release, the sale is subject to the fulfillment of conditions precedent which is expected to be concluded by the end of the last quarter of 2019.During August 2019, Grindrod announced as part of its strategic review process, its intention to dispose of certain non-core businesses which included its agricultural investments in NWK and Senwes.Said Andrew Waller…

Aids to Navigation Training held in Cape Town

Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) successfully hosted another IALA Level 1.1 Aids to Navigation Manager training course for six participants from Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and The Gambia. The course was held in Cape Town from 22 July to 16 August 2019.The Level 1.1 Aids to Navigation (AtoN) Manager training was developed by IALA, the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities. IALA is the only international body concerned with the provision of AtoNs at sea and on inland waterways…

Cape Town Damen Shipyards Joins WISTA

South Africa's Damen Shipyards Cape Town (DSCT) has joined the Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA). The yard is represented in the Association by Transformation and ESD Manager Eva Moloi.WISTA is an international networking organization whose mission is to attract and support women, at the management level, in the maritime, trading and logistics sectors.Transformation and ESD Manager Eva has been nominated to WISTA South Africa’s Executive Committee as the Cape Town Chapter Representative.Eva said…

New Shipbuilding Facility in Cape Town

Veecraft Marine, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Paramount Maritime Holdings and African-based global aerospace and technology company Paramount Group,  opened its new premises at a ceremony held in Cape Town. Veecraft Marine has manufactured more than 60  maritime platform solutions in various classes since its inception in 2002, totaling more than $130 million of contracts. Leveraging its specialization in the construction of 20 to 30 meter vessels, the company has secured an order book valued at more than $13.5 million.

Dan-Bunkering Staff Changes in Houston

Dan-Bunkering (America) has announced the promotion and employment of two staff members.William Cline was recently promoted to Team Leader Offshore Division. William was hired as Bunker Trader back in 2014 and has since his employment demonstrated excellent skills, especially within the offshore sector where he has been one of the key contributors to Dan-Bunkering’s growth within this particular market. As the company has clear intentions of further positioning its presence in the sector…

ONE Offers New African Service

Container lines Ocean Network Express (ONE) is launching a new service covering Africa, India and the Middle East (AIM).The new product will broaden ONE’s already expansive global coverage by offering direct port calls between West Africa, South Africa and key locations in West Asia.The new service will offer market leading transit times between the West Asian ports of Jebel Ali, Mundra, Nhava Sheva and Colombo and African ports of Durban, Cape Town, Tema, Tincan and Apapa.The AIM Service…

Hapag-Lloyd Launches New Africa Service

Hapag-Lloyd is expanding its African liner services and will offer its MIAX (Middle East-India-Africa Express) service starting in October 2019. It will include direct connections between the Arabian Gulf, India, Colombo (Sri Lanka), La Réunion, South Africa and West Africa.MIAX is integrated into the Global Mainline Network with the central ports Jebel Ali (Dubai) and Colombo. Hapag-Lloyd will operate MIAX jointly with Ocean Network Express.

Go-slow at Port Hits South African Car and Commodity Exports

A go-slow by workers at a major South African port is hitting exports of cars and other commodities, the country's Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan said on Thursday.State-owned rail operator Transnet said it had suspended a number of employees at its Ngqura Container Terminal for engaging in what it said was an illegal industrial action."We are getting reports of a go-slow at some of our ports which is beginning to (have an) impact on the export of vehicles from South Africa in particular but perhaps other commodities as well…

17.5 Tons of Cocaine found on Containership

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)-led multi-agency examination of shipping containers at the Philadelphia seaport netted a historic load of cocaine, the largest cocaine seizure in the 230-year history of U.S. Customs and CBP, with an estimated weight of over 17.5 tons and a street value of about $1.1 billion.During a midstream joint boarding Sunday night, CBP, HSI, and U.S. Coast Guard authorities detected anomalies while examining seven shipping containers aboard the MSC Gayane…

Kadow tapped to head AGCS Marine

Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty SE  (AGCS) said that, effective July 1, 2019, Ulrich Kadow will be appointed as AGCS Global Head of Marine. Currently Chief Agent of AGCS Canada, Kadow will take over from current Global Head of Marine and Energy Simon Buxton, who is leaving Allianz. Until a successor in Canada is confirmed, Kadow will maintain a dual leadership role for both the country and Marine Line of Business responsibilities.Kadow has led AGCS’ Canadian business since May 2015, after originally joining AGCS in 2006.

Mariners Set to Strike at South African Ports

South Africa's transport workers union Satawu threatened a "total shutdown" at major ports across the country from Thursday after issuing a 48-hour strike notice for mariners over a payment dispute, the union said on Tuesday.The South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) called the strike after negotiations with management became deadlocked over salary discrepancies between black and white mariners, with what it says are white mariners drawing higher salaries than their black counterparts…

Cape Town to Employ Helo Pilotage Transfers

Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has taken the decision to introduce a helicopter service at its Port of Cape Town to transfer marine pilots onto and off visiting vessels. This would make the port one of three within the South African port landlord’s complementary port system that offer the service, the others being Durban and Richards Bay.TNPA expects to commission the helicopter in Cape Town in 2021, according to GM: Infrastructure and Port Planning, Hamilton Nxumalo.In…

Poor April for Seaborne Coal masks Better Market

Coal exporters suffered a poor April with seaborne volumes dropping from the previous month amid slack demand, but the overall picture for the industry so far this year isn't quite as gloomy as it may appear.April is not traditionally a strong month for coal demand as it falls between the winter and summer power demand peaks - declining seaborne volumes are to be expected.It's also worth noting that the world's top coal exporters have managed to boost shipments on a year-on-year basis…

Miami Delegation Returns to Port of Cape Town

Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) welcomed a high-level delegation from the Miami-Dade County in the United States for a tour of South Africa’s second busiest port, the Port of Cape Town, on Tuesday, March 26, 2019. The visit formed part of the Miami-Dade Business Development Mission to South Africa from March 24 to March 27, 2019.The Miami-Dade delegation was led by Ms Audrey M. Edmonson, Chairwoman of the Miami-Dade County Commission. She was joined by senior representatives of entities including Miami-Dade Aviation Department…

The Port of Ngqura – Nurturing its green status

Transnet National Ports Authority’s (TNPA) Port of Ngqura is the only port with a green status in the South African port system and maintains this status through a number of innovative measures.“Ngqura is the only South African port that was subjected to environmental legislation during its entire development and will continue to be during its operation and future development,” said Mandilakhe Mdodana, Environmental Manager.The port’s ‘green’ initiatives include among others a number of unique biodiversity conservation programs…

Rhenus Acquires World Net Logistics

European logistics provider Rhenus Group has acquired South African freight forwarding and logistics specialist World Net Logistics (WNL).The takeover of the Johannesburg-headquartered firm WNL is still subject to approval by the relevant cartel authorities.In addition to having a dense network of business sites in South Africa, WNL also has several branches and partners in Asia and Germany.The acquisition by Germany’s Rhenus Group is the latest in a string of purchases around the world in the last few months alone…

Port of Durban: Growing Cargo Volumes

The Port of Durban has noted growth in volumes in the container, liquid bulk and dry bulk sectors in 2018, according to recent data released by Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA).Container volumes in the Port of Durban ended 9.5% higher for the year ending December 2018 at 2 956 670 TEUs compared to the 2 699 978 TEUs handled in 2017. Of this, container imports grew by 10% in 2018 and exports by 17%. These are the highest volumes handled by the port in the last seven years.Dry bulk volumes grew by 5.8% from 2017 to 2018…

Opportunities for Boat Building in Eastern Cape

Transnet National Ports Authority’s (TNPA) Port of Ngqura has hosted the testing and launch of the first ever locally manufactured aluminium vessels by PE-based boat builder, Legacy Marine. As the company’s ship yard is based in Perseverance, the low bridges blocked the route to the Port of PE in the past, restricting the building of larger vessels. When the new Port of Ngqura stepped up as an alternative port, it contributed to the expansion of boat building in the Eastern Cape.“Now that the port is available for new vessel launches…

Hapag-Lloyd: Expedition Fleet to Cruise Without Heavy Oil

Together with the introduction of new expedition cruise catalogues for the 2020-2021 season. Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has also announced that low-pollutant marine gas oil (MGO) will be used exclusively on all routes sailed by its expedition ships in the fleet - the HANSEATIC nature, the HANSEATIC inspiration and the BREMEN from July 2020. Joining the fleet in 2021, the HANSEATIC spirit will also use this fuel.The use of low-sulphur fuels in the Antarctic has been mandatory for several years and already Hapag-Lloyd Cruises uses marine gas oil voluntarily in other sensitive regions…

Lankhorst Appoints Commercial Director

Maritime and heavy lift ropes company, Lankhorst Ropes, has appointed Mark Pieter Frölich as commercial director for Lankhorst Ropes USA. Based in Philadelphia, Frölich will head the development of Lankhorst Ropes’ sales in the maritime and offshore markets in the United States and Canada.Lankhorst Ropes is part of Kansas based WireCo WorldGroup, a steel wire and synthetic ropes maker. Previously regional manager for Lankhorst Ropes in the Middle East, Frölich has spent the past seven years successfully founding and growing the WireCo WorldGroup branch office in Dubai.

Construction Kicks Off at Ngqura Liquid Bulk Terminal

Oiltanking Grindrod Calulo (Pty) Ltd (OTGC) and Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has turned the first sod at the site of the Port of Ngqura’s future liquid bulk tank farm. This comes ahead of the planned decommissioning and rehabilitation of the existing liquid bulk facilities at the neighboring Port of Port Elizabeth, which will pave the way for Ngqura’s establishment as a new petroleum trading hub for Southern Africa.The new tank farm is expected to provide storage and marine infrastructure to support the overall petroleum demand projections for South Africa.

India's Thermal Coal Imports Could Rise 10 pct in 2019

India's thermal coal imports could rise by about 10 percent in 2019 due to rail transport problems and other logistical bottlenecks, an executive at the country's largest coal trader Adani Enterprises said on Tuesday.Thermal coal imports rose in 2018 after two years of decline, despite moves by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government to cut the country's imports in a bid to reduce the trade deficit.Rajendra Singh, chief operating officer for coal trading at Adani Enterprises…

World Seaborne Coal Trade Rose 3.7% in 2018

World coal seaborne trade grew 3.7 percent last year helped by higher output in India, Indonesia and Russia, Germany's VDKI coal importers lobby said on Friday.Imports and exports rose to 1.202 billion tonnes from 1.159 billion tonnes in 2017, VDKI Managing Director Franz-Josef Wodopia said in an speech made available to Reuters.Of the total, trade in steam coal used in power stations rose by 3.6 percent to 920 million tonnes.Trade in coking coal used for steelmaking rose by 4.4 percent to 281 million tonnes…

TransNamib, Botswana Railways MoU on Gobabis Container Terminal

TransNamib Holdings Ltd, and Botswana Railways (BR) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Gaborone, Botswana, which will culminate in the development and operation of a container terminal in Gobabis.The MoU, signed by TransNamib CEO, Johny Smith, and his Motswana counterpart, Leonard Musa Makwinja, signals the beginning of a fruitful and beneficial relationship to develop and enhance trade between the two countries. The MoU was .“The future of railways offers many opportunities”, said.

ZIM Launches Blockchain-based Bills of Lading

Israel’s largest cargo shipping company ZIM Integrated Shipping Services has opened its blockchain platform for electronic bills of lading (eB/Ls) to all clients in selected trades.Over the last year, following ZIM’s November 2017 announcement regarding the first-ever pilot of paperless Bills-of-Lading based on blockchain technology, ZIM and selected leading customers have been testing the new Platform as a solution for trade activities on multiple shipping lanes.Following the successful pilot, accomplished with the cooperation of Wave Ltd.