Home China Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news 6 September 2021 – Africa Ports

Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news 6 September 2021 – Africa Ports

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Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news 6 September 2021 – Africa Ports

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TODAY’S BULLETIN OF MARITIME NEWS

These news reports are updated on an ongoing basis. Check back regularly for the latest news as it develops – where necessary refresh your page at www.africaports.co.za

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FIRST VIEW:   ORIENTAL APOERA

EARLIER NEWS CAN BE FOUND HERE AT NEWS CATEGORIES…….

The Monday masthead shows the Port of Tema (Ghana)
The Tuesday masthead shows the Port of Saldanha (futuristic)
The Wednesday masthead shows the Port of Saldanha Iron Ore Terminal
The Thursday masthead shows the Port of Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT)
The Friday masthead shows the Port Richards Bay
The Saturday masthead shows the Port Harcourt (Nigeria)
The Sunday masthead shows the Port Elizabeth Manganese Terminal

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FIRST VIEW:  ORIENTAL APOERA

Oriental Apoera sailing from Durban, pics by Keith Betts, featured in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news
Oriental Apoera sailing from Durban.  Note the Millenium Tower on the Bluff, minus its cowl and other features that went into the promise of making this a Durban landmark when commissioned 21 years ago – now just another sad memory. The Tower is still in use by the Port Control people, and the red and green signal lights, indicating a ship sailing or entering, are still operational, but not her cloak and features that were supposed to set this tower aside.
Oriental Apoera, picture by Keith Betts, appearing in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news
Pictures by Keith Betts

The general cargo ship ORIENTAL APOERA (IMO 9008055) departs Durban in January this year following one of her few calls in South Africa. The Malaysian owned vessel was built in 1992, making her 29 years old and looking somewhat the part, though a coat of paint would create a different impression. Oriental Apoera has a deadweight of 6,261 tons, a gross tonnage of 4,897 tons and is 111.6 metres in length and 18.05 metres wide. She flies the flag of Sierra Leone.

The ship’s registered owner since 2017 is listed as Oriental Paragon Ltd, of Jalan Wong King Huo, Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia. The ISM manager is Hai Sheng Shipping of Hong Kong and the commercial and ship manager is the same as her registered owner, Oriental Paragon Ltd of Sarawak, Malaysia.

Oriental Apoera called in South Africa in December 2020 and January 2021, the latter was when the above photographs were taken. Prior to that the ship operated for several years in South American waters. She is currently off the coast of Indonesia and may be in some form of laybye.

The pictures above are by Keith Betts

Pictures:  Keith Betts

Added 5 September 2021

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Photographs of shipping and other maritime scenes involving any of the ports of South Africa or from the rest of the African continent, together with a short description, name of ship/s, ports etc are welome.

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Hidden debts trial: Mozambique’s own corruption trial

The Ematum fleet of patrol vessels. The remainder were trawlers, featured in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news
The Ematum fleet of patrol vessels. The remainder were trawlers

7,427 bottles of wine plus 3 Rolls, 3 Ferraris, 2 Maclarens, but only one Maseratti

Report by Joseph Hanlon
Mozambique News Reports and Clippings

In 2013 and 2014, three Mozambican state-owned corporations, ProIndicus, Ematum and Mam, took out €1.76 billion ($2.08 billion) in loans. This colossal loan came from Credit score Suisse and the Russian financial institution VTB, amongst others and was supposed to finance maritime surveillance, fishing and shipyard tasks. Between 20 and 30 trawlers and surveillance vessels were built and delivered to Maputo but have remained out of use (some of the surveillance vessels may have been used in the battle for Mocimboa da Praia, where such a vessel was incapacitated by rocket grenade fire.

Charges have now been brought on the allegedly inflated loans. The case, known as the Hidden Debt trial, has since been extended by one month into November.

Week Two of the trial

Joseph Hanlon reports:

Privinvest’s Boustani on 31 March 2013 said he had chartered a plane that would leave France for Maputo, carrying 7,427 bottles of wine for the Presidency of Armando Guebuza, it was revealed Monday (30 Aug, Day 6 of the trial, which heard Ndambi Guebuza). The list of luxury cars bought by Ndambi with money from Boustani included three Rolls-Royces (two at $700,000 and $220,000), three Ferraris ($410,000, $610,00), three BMWs, three Land Rover Discoveries, two MacLarens ($500,000 and $490,000); an Aston Martin ($410,000) and Maserati ($160,000).

Former President Armando Guebuza was present in court all day on Monday to witness the hearing of his son, Armando Ndambi Guebuza, noted O Pais (30 Aug). Also present was Ndambi’s doctor, because the President’s son said he felt ill. In e-mails between Boustani and Nhangumele, the code name for Ndambi was “Cinderella”.

The session opened Monday with Ndambi going on the offensive, in ways that were not appreciated by the court. At one point when the Public Prosecution, Ana Sheila Marrengula, asked him a question, he said “I don’t trust you. You are liars. You are liars.” He continued,

“The attorney general is the vehicle used to persecute not only my family, but also the fighters of the national liberation struggle of this country. … It was not by chance that there was an attempt to poison my family. What has the PGR done so far? It has done nothing. My whole family was in danger of dying. The poison was put in the pudding.” But when Ana Sheila Marrengula inquired about the wine, Ndambi said “Would the lady like some wine?”

At another point, Ndambi told judge Efigénio Baptista “I have no memory like an elephant.” The judge responded, “But we want memory of an ordinary person. Mutota, who is over 60, remembered things from 2008. Mr Teófilo too, who is much older than Mr Ndambi… But you are just over 40 years old and you remember nothing.”

At one point, the judge reprimanded Ndambi: “Mr. Armando, it is not necessary, to assert your rights, to be rude. Every father, when a son is born and grows up, educates him. So, the father wants to be proud of that son. And one of the things that makes a father ashamed is to see his son being rude,” said Baptista, in the presence of Armando Emilio Guebuza, father of the accused. (Carta de Mocambique 1 Sep)

The omnipresent absence of Filipe Nyusi is noted by Marcelo Mosse, editor of Carta de Mocambique. Former President Armando Guebuza and former Finance Minster Manuel Chang are often mentioned by name, but the name of President Filipe Nyusi is never spoken. There is a tacit understanding that in the frequent references he is always the “former Defence Minister”.

In English

Last week’s report on this case, the first week, can be seen HERE

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Tanzanian port upgrades paying off

Dar es Salaam port upgrades paying off, appearing in Africa ports & ships MARITIME NEWS
The port of Dar es Salaam, where improvements to the port infrastructire is showing dividends

Upgrades to Tanzanian ports and rail services are showing dividends, particularly those undertaken at the ports of Dar es Salaam and Mtwara.

That’s according to the Tanzanian embassy in Tel Aviv in Israel, which said last week in a statement that the modernisation of the ports and rail networks were largely thanks to the Chinese contractors involved with various projects.

The statement revealed that revenue at the ports improved between February and July this year from US$227 million for the same period in 2020, to $229 million in 2021. This could be credited to the improvements completed so far at Dar es Salaam and Mtwara.

At the port of Dar es Salaam, seven of the port’s terminal berths have been strengthened and deepened, with construction work carried out by China Harbour Engineering.

On completion large vessels of up to 70,000 tonnes will be able to dock at the port while the capacity of the port to approximately 17.7 million tonnes per year.

The same company combined with China Railway Major Bridge Engineering Group to build a 300-metre berth at Mtwara Port, and to renovate its cargo yard.

Cargo increases

With these modernisation projects, cargo handled at the country’s ports increased from 7.83 million tonnes between February and July in 2020 to 8.87 million tons for the same period this year.

The number of ships calling at the ports increased from 1,388 to 2,206 over the same period.

Gerson Msigwa, the government’s spokesperson and the director of information services, revealed that the number of ships docking at the country’s ports surged from 1,388 to 2,206.

“We cannot underestimate the increase in revenue taking into account that some countries are experiencing a significant drop due to the effects of COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.

The new berth recently constructed at the port of Mtwara, featured in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news
Computer-generated image of the new berth recently constructed at the port of Mtwara

Total revenue

Total revenues came from the Indian Ocean ports of Dar es Salaam, Tanga and Mtwara as well as those of Tanzania’s Great Lakes ports.

Msigwa said the port of Dar es Salaam had recently welcomed the 58,939-gt car carrier Tranquil Ace. Built in 2009 at the Minaminippon Shipbuilding yard in Usuki, Japan, she is one of the larger car carriers to call at a Tanzanian port, he indicated.

The number of vehicles handled at the port of Dar es Salaam Port improved from 64,209 to 81,016.

Despite these recorded gains, there is still some remaining work to be done at Dar es Salaam, including the widening and dredging of the ship entrance channel, dredging and widening the turning circle and harbour basin as well continuing with the strengthening and deepening of the remaining berths.

Tanga Port

At the port of Tanga major upgrades are also underway in order that the north-eastern port may handle larger ships. This project is expected to be completed by October next year.

The intention is to transform Tanga port into a highly competitive terminal for serving not just the regional customers but to include those in the Great Lakes and wider East African region.

The contractor involved with the port of Tanga is China Harbour Engineering.

On Lake Tanganyika, ongoing construction of the Karema Port Terminal stands at 50 per cent and is expected to be completed by March 2022. This contract is in the hands of the Xiamen Ongoing Construction Group

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WHARF TALK: Maiden voyage for harbour tug BIO GUERRA

The Damen-built tug Bio Guerra on her berth in the port of Cape Town. Picture by 'Dockrat', featured in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news
The Damen-built tug Bio Guerra on her berth, shortly after arriving in the port of Cape Town. Picture by ‘Dockrat’

Story by Jay Gates
Pictures by ‘Dockrat’

The arrival of a vessel on its maiden voyage from the shipyard to its new owner, or on its first port of call for its charterers, usually gets it a water cannon welcome, lots of flags, fizzy drinks and hoo-hah! Usually.

On 3rd September at 19h00 the harbour tug BIO GUERRA (IMO 9889837) arrived at Cape Town harbour and went straight to the Eastern Mole in the Duncan Dock, the usual short term berth for bunkers and stores only. A wee harbour tug arrival doesn’t normally get much attention, not even one on its maiden delivery voyage from the shipyard to its new owner.

Bio Guerra's 'office' - the bridge works and accommodation area. Picture by 'Dockrat', appearing in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news
Bio Guerra’s ‘office’ – the bridge works and accommodation area. Picture by ‘Dockrat’

Built in 2021 by Damen Song Cam Shipyard at Haiphong in Vietnam, Bio Guerra is a standard Damen Azimuth Stern Drive (ASD) 2813 harbour tug. As an ASD harbour tug she is 28 metres in length, with a beam of 13 metres, and a draft of 6 metres.

She is powered by two Caterpillar 3516CTA HD/D V16 engines, producing 6,772 bhp (5,050 kW), which drive two Rolls-Royce US 255 fixed pitch rudder propellers, capable of 360 degree rotation, and able to provide a maximum sea speed of 13 knots.

 

The crest or logo of the Port of Cotonou in Wst Africa, Bio Guerra's destination and future home. Picture by 'Dockrat'
The crest or logo of the Port of Cotonou in West Africa, Bio Guerra’s destination and future homeport. Picture by ‘Dockrat’

Her auxiliary engines are two Caterpillar C4.4 TA 4 cylinder 4 stroke generators providing 107 kVA. She has a FiFi firefighting capability, and she has a bollard pull of 85 tons ahead, and 80 tons astern. Accommodation is provided for up to 10 crewmembers.

One of two Damen ASD 2813 tugs, ordered by the Port Autonome de Cotonou in Benin back in August 2020, the first of the tugs was delivered to the West African port on 22nd July this year. Departing Haiphong in early July, Bio Guerra had a convoluted and indirect route to bring her to Cape Town.

The stern view of the Cotonou harbour tug, Bio Guerra, in Cape Town port. Picture by 'Dockrat', appearing in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news
The stern view of the Cotonou harbour tug, Bio Guerra, in Cape Town port. Picture by ‘Dockrat’

Avoiding a direct crossing of the Indian Ocean, she departed Singapore on 28 July, arriving at Victoria in the Seychelles on 13 August for a 24 hour bunkering stop. She then departed Victoria on 14 August bound for Port Elizabeth, where she arrived in Algoa Bay on 27 August. After a four day stopover, she departed Algoa Bay on 1 September for Cape Town.

With a port of registry of Cotonou, which is her soon to be home port, her delivery voyage actually had her home port on her stern covered by a simple metal plate. The plate displayed her port of registry to be that of Kingstown, and she was flying the flag of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, located in the southern end of the Caribbean Sea, and a flag of convenience.

This steel plate doesn't quite do the job of obliterating the tug's name and homeport. Picture by 'Dockrat', appearing in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news
This steel plate doesn’t quite do the job of obliterating the tug’s name and homeport. Picture by ‘Dockrat’

The Damen Song Cam shipyard, located on a 43 hectare site, was designed and outfitted by Damen, as a joint venture with the Vietnamese Shipbuilding Industry Corporation on a 70%/30% shareholding split. It was completed in 2014 and it specialises in building all Damen tug and workboat designs up to 60 metres in length. All newbuilds at the yard are constructed undercover, in a purpose built shipbuilding hall.

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Australian-first Covid vaccinations for international seafarers: Application in Queensland

Australian-first Covid vaccinations for international seafarers: Application in Queensland, featured in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news
Australian-first Covid vaccinations for international seafarers: Application in Queensland

Queensland will become the first Australian jurisdiction to administer Covid vaccines to all international seafarers arriving in local ports, with a trial programme commencing in the coming weeks aimed at reducing the risk of serious illness and community transmission.

Maritime Safety Queensland, working with QLD Health, has developed a vaccination programme that will commence with high risk vessels, ships that visit Australian ports on a regular schedule, those that carry liquid fuels, and finally all other vessels arriving at QLD ports.

The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), along with employer organisations Maritime Industry Australia Ltd and Shipping Australia, have welcomed the initiative that will not only protect the health of seafarers, but strengthen Australia’s supply chains. This was reported on 2 September.

ITF Australia Coordinator Ian Bray said ten per cent of the world’s sea trade passes through Australian ports, with maritime supply chains responsible for delivering essential goods and taking Australia’s exports to the world.

Seafarers are the backbone of the economy

International seafarers are the backbone of the economy, but a growing number of Covid outbreaks on vessels arriving in Australian ports highlights the need for urgent action to protect the health of these workers, reduce the risk of community transmission, and strengthen supply chain resilience.

Bray said: “Many of the vessels that travel through Australian ports visit regularly — often on the same routes — making it easy to administer both doses of vaccine to seafarers over a period of months.

ITF President and Maritime Union of Australia

“Even for crews that only visit an Australian port once, the health advice is that a single dose of vaccine significantly reduces the risk of them requiring hospitalisation.”

ITF President and Maritime Union of Australia National Secretary Paddy Crumlin said the Australian Government should immediately take the model to the National Cabinet so that it can be rolled out around the country.

He commented: “This Australian-first model developed by Maritime Safety Queensland and QLD Health has the potential to save countless lives and should be taken to National Cabinet as a matter of urgency so it can be implemented around the country.

“Without ships, Australia’s economy would grind to a halt, which is why COVID testing of all international seafarers arriving in Australian ports, the provision of healthcare to sick workers, and a national plan to vaccinate the entire workforce is so important.

“This approach would also be consistent with Australia’s legal obligations as a signatory to the Maritime Labour Convention, which make it responsible for the health and welfare of the seafarers that arrive in our ports.”

News continues below Covid-19 jabs to seafarers at no charge Covid-19 jabs to seafarers at no charge Picture: www.northseaport.com © Crew services specialist Boers has launched seafarer vaccination programmes at German and Belgian ports, as shipping executives warn of onboard Covid-19 outbreaks as it is reported that seafarers are not getting vaccines quick enough. Seafarers arriving at ports in Antwerp, Ghent and Zeebrugge can get one-shot Covid-19 jabs through Boers’ scheme, which is being launched to protect key workers in the shipping industry. The Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine will be available free of charge until further notice to all mariners of any nationality arriving in Belgium for crew changes. There is a fee for the medical services provided by the port authorities. Vaccination is absolutely vital In the words of Hans Boers, Co-CEO of Boers, the Netherlands-based shipping crew transport services operator for Northern Europe: ‘Getting as many seafarers as possible vaccinated is absolutely vital to supply chains and global markets. ‘We have seen with the crew change crisis the challenges shipping companies face in hiring seafarers for their vessels, creating a shortage of available mariners which in turn has led to rising prices for goods, food and petrol as demand outstrips supply. ‘For us, the most important thing is making sure crew members entering Belgian ports have access to free Covid-19 jabs. Protecting seafarers from the virus is paramount – and we have the means to help do that. The more mariners who have the vaccine, the quicker shipping and life in general can return to normal.’ Boers recently began offering free jabs to mariners at German ports in Hamburg and Bremerhaven. The company also provides vaccinations at ports in the Netherlands, albeit for just Dutch-flagged or Dutch-owned vessels but it plans to extend this service to all seafarers, it is reported. While Boers is supporting efforts to vaccinate all seafarers, maritime executives such as Esben Poulsson, Chairman of the International Chamber of Shipping, say the new delta strain of Covid-19 has hampered the shipping industry. Poulsson added that crew changes were not happening quickly enough to satisfy increased demand for products, especially from the US and Europe in the lead up to Christmas, putting more pressure on already strained global supply chains. He also criticised government figures for continuing to stick their heads in the sand. Stephen Cotton, General Secretary, International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), expressed similar concerns about the crew change crisis. He commented: ‘The situation is going from bad to worse,” he said. “We need more than lip service from governments; we need concrete action that allows crew changes to be carried out in a safe manner.’ IMO SG’s comment Meanwhile, IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim has urged IMO member states to support a fair global distribution of Covid-19 vaccines, to ensure seafarers have access to jabs. He said: ‘No seafarers should be left behind or forced to forgo their careers because of limited resources in their home country.’ He added that shipping companies needed to provide testing, appropriate PPE and access to medical and sanitation facilities, to protect crew members and prevent the virus spreading. How to apply At Belgian ports, seafarers who want the Covid-19 vaccine must apply at least 48 hours before their ship is berthed. Application forms, which should include the vessel information, expected time of arrival and details of the mariner wanting the vaccination, must be sent to info@boers-crewservices.nl On receiving the application, the port’s maritime medical centre will either confirm or refuse the request. Vaccinations on vessels are available for five or more crew members, with groups of four or fewer having to go to the medical centre. Any Covid-19 jab will be recorded in the seafarer’s vaccination booklet. In Germany, Boers offers around 30 shots on Tuesdays and Thursdays and approximately 40 shots on Saturdays to seafarers at Hamburg’s port. Details for the number of vaccines available in Bremerhaven and on what days are being finalised. Shipping companies wanting vaccines for their seafarers at German ports need to provide Boers with a crew list, vaccination passport, the vessel’s contact details and a patient agreement and information sheet signed by the crew member. Edited by Paul Ridgway London Added 12 August 2021 ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦aul Ridgway, London Correspondent for Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news

 

 

 

Reported by Paul Ridgway
London

Comment: 

South Africa should follow in these footsteps by introducing a similar policy of vaccinating visiting seafarers, perhaps with the initiative, support and leadership of SAMSA.   There is evidence that the then new and deadly strain of the delta variant of Covid-19 entered South Africa via the ports; it makes sense to  help prevent the spread of this disease with a drive to provide protection to all visiting seafarers. – editor

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China opens first road-rail transport link to Indian Ocean

Myanmar-Chinese border swoing position of China's near border town of Lincang, featured in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news
Myanmar-Chinese border showing position of China’s city of Lincang

China’s first road and rail service between the city of Chengdu in Western China and the Indian Ocean in the Andaman Sea has been opened via a ‘test cargo’ that has successfully completed the journey.

It is reported that the new service, which is called the China-Myanmar New Passage, can save between 20 and 22 days when compared with shipping freight to a Chinese seaport and from there to Singapore at the end of the Malaysian peninsular.

The China News Service reports that the transport corridor involves a sea-road-rail link in which goods from Singapore arrive by ship at Yangon Port, after sailing through the Strait of Malacca and the Andaman Sea in the northeastern Indian Ocean.

The goods are then transported across Myanmar by road to Lincang in southwest Yunnan province on the Chinese side near the Myanmar border.

The railway line currently ends in Lincang on the Chinese side opposite the Myanmar border trade town of Chin Shwe Haw. Plans are underway to develop Chin Shwe Haw as a ‘border economic cooperation zone’ under the Belt and Road Initiative.

From Lincang the new Chinese railway line runs to Chengdu, a key trade hub in western China, completing the corridor.

“This passage connects the logistics lines of Singapore, Myanmar and China, and is currently the most convenient land and sea channel linking the Indian Ocean with southwest China,” said the China News Service.

Plans to build new port in Kyaukphyu

China has plans to develop another port in Kyaukphyu in the Rakhine state, including a proposed railway line from Yunnan directly to the port, but the progress there has been stalled by unrest in Myanmar.

The report said that Chinese planners have also looked at the Gwadar port in Pakistan as another key outlet to the Indian Ocean that will bypass the Malacca Straits.

Gwadar is being developed as part of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to the far western Xinjiang region, but has been slow to take off amid concerns over security.

The costs and logistics through CPEC are also less favourable than the Myanmar route with the opening of the rail transport channel from the Myanmar border right to western China’s biggest commercial hub, Chengdu. Transportation time on the railway line from the Myanmar border to Chengdu takes three days.

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What’s happening in the world of ships and shipping?

The laker bulk carrier Algoma Harvester. Picture: Flickr, featured in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news
The laker bulk carrier Algoma Harvester. Picture: Flickr

Canada’s Fednav signs for ten newbuilding Lakers

Fednav Limited, Canada’s largest dry bulk shipping group, has signed an agreement with Sumisho Marine Co, Ltd (Sumitomo Corporation Group) and Oshima Shipbuilding to build ten new ocean-going Lakers*. The ships will be built at Oshima shipyard in Japan, with the first vessel expected to be delivered in mid-2023.

The new Fednav-Oshima designed super-eco Lakers represent the most efficient vessels to date for Fednav. Their carbon emissions will be 33% less than the vessels they will replace, including a Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) footprint at least 87% smaller. They will be delivered equipped with the latest technology, including Tier III engines and the capability of burning biofuels.

“We are delighted to include these new vessels to our fleet to support the shipping industry and reinforce our commitment to the Great Lakes St Lawrence Seaway,” said Paul Pathy, President and CEO of Fednav. “These new vessels are aligned with our long-term strategy to invest in our future and support our transition toward more sustainable shipping.”

Fednav is a privately owned shipping company and is the largest international dry bulk shipping group in Canada. It operates a modern fleet of about 120 bulk carriers trading worldwide, of which 60 are owned. The company is headquartered in Montreal and maintains commercial offices in Antwerp, Charlotte, Hamburg, Rio de Janeiro, Singapore and Tokyo.

* The word ‘Lakers’ generally refers to bulk carriers or freighters that operate on the Great Lakes or waterways of North America, including the St Lawrence River.

Orient Overseas Places $1.6 Billion Order for 10 New Boxships

OOCL Beijing under the ship-to-shore cranes, featured in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news
OOCL Beijing under the ship-to-shore cranes

The demand for containerships has reached unprecedented measures, both for large mega ships of between 20,000 and 24,000 TEU capacity, and much smaller ships that are achieving previously unheard of rates for short term charter.

One of the latest order book involves the Hong Kong-based Orient Overseas International, part of the COSCO Shipping Group, which announced a new investment of $1.6 billion as the company’s container fleet continues to expand.

OOIL is reported to have placed an order for 10 new 16,000 TEU container ships that will be built at two Chinese shipyards – Dalian Cosco KHI Ship Engineering (DACKS) and Nantong Cosco KHI Ship Engineering (NACKS), split evenly.

The vessels will be equipped with energy-saving and emission reduction technologies, providing cost advantages for Orient Overseas Container Lines (OOCL) which will operate the vessels. The vessels will be delivered between the fourth quarter of 2024 and the fourth quarter of 2025.

OOCL already has orders placed with the same shipyards for 12 other containerships each of 23,000 TEU capacity and for delivery in 2023 and 2024. OOCL operates a current fleet of 61 containerships with a total capacity of 542,000 TEU.

In the first six months of this year OOIL reported a slightly less than 20% increase in containers carried compared with the same period of a year ago. The operating profit of over US$2.8 billion compares with $155 million in 2020.

MSC continues “insatiable appetite” for more tonnage

Container ship Mexico (IMO 9231779) which has been reported as purchased by MSC. Picture courtesy: Vesselfinder, featured in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news
Container ship Mexico (IMO 9231779) which has been reported as purchased by MSC. Picture courtesy: Vesselfinder

Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) continues with the largest orderbook of any container carrier, totalling more than 800,000 TEU capacity and fast approaching the capacity of long-time leader of the pack, Maersk, with the latter company seemingly content with what it already has.

Since August 2020 MSC has placed orders or purchased over 70 ships with the equivalent of approximately 300,000 TEU capacity. And yet its appetite for additional secondhand tonnage appears as strong as ever. That’s apart from a long list of newbuildings including vessels of 24,000 TEU capacity.

Loadstar recently reported that MSC paid $50 million for the 19-year old Mexico (IMO 9231779), capacity 4,939 TEU, which, it reported, would have been lucky to achieve $6 million for scrap just one year earlier. London shipbroker Braemar ACM was reported as referring to the purchase as ‘eye-catching’, particularly so as the vessel remains on charter to Maersk, and was sold on the basis of a forward delivery next April, following dry-docking for special survey.

Braemar said this is testament to MSC’s belief that the market will continue to run well into 2022.

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USCG East Caribbean drugs bust

The ship’s company of the Coast Guard Cutter Richard Etheridge crew offloaded approximately 1,700 kilograms of seized cocaine at Coast Guard Base San Juan on 3 September following disruption of a go-fast vessel smuggling attempt.  Picture by Ricardo Castrodad, US Coast Guard District 7 PADET San Juan. USCG ©, featured in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news
The ship’s company of the Coast Guard Cutter Richard Etheridge crew offloaded approximately 1,700 kilograms of seized cocaine at Coast Guard Base San Juan on 3 September following disruption of a go-fast vessel smuggling attempt.  Picture by Ricardo Castrodad, US Coast Guard District 7 PADET San Juan. USCG ©

Coast Guard offloads $51 million cocaine shipment in San Juan, Puerto Rico, following a drug bust near the British Virgin Islands

On 3 September the ship’s company of US Coast Guard Cutter Richard Etheridge offloaded approximately 1,700 kg of seized cocaine at Coast Guard Base San Juan, Puerto Rico following the disruption of a go-fast vessel smuggling attempt near Anegada, British Virgin Islands.

This disruption and seizure was the result of multi-agency efforts involving the Caribbean Border Interagency Group (CBIG) and the Caribbean Corridor Strike Force (CCSF). The seized cocaine has an estimated wholesale value of approximately $51 million dollars. That represents many more millions of dollars at street value and its lifting undoubtedly saves lives far away from the Caribbean.

During a routine patrol on the night of 27 August, the Coast Guard Cutter Richard Etheridge responded to the sighting of a suspect go-fast vessel, in waters NE of the British Virgin Islands.

Coast Guard watchstanders in Sector San Juan directed the launch of a Coast Guard MH-60T aircraft from Air Station Borinquen to vector cutter Richard Etheridge to the go-fast vessel’s position. Additionally, Coast Guard and British Virgin Islands authorities maintained communication to interdict the suspect go-fast vessel.

As the cutter Richard Etheridge closed in on the go-fast vessel, the smugglers proceeded to jettison their cargo and flee the area at high speed. Afterwards, the Coast Guard helicopter crew proceeded to assist Richard Etheridge in locating the jettisoned cargo. In total, the crew of cutter recovered 57 bales, which tested positive for cocaine.

Close collaboration

Captain Gregory H Magee, Sector San Juan commander commented: “Despite the challenging sea state conditions and thanks to the close collaboration and coordination with our Royal Virgin Islands Police partners, our crews did an outstanding job in disrupting a major shipment of cocaine and keeping it from ever reaching the streets.

“Our strong partnerships, as in the case of the British Virgin Islands and island nations throughout our area of responsibility, are key to achieving safe and secure maritime borders from drug trafficking and other smuggling threats in the Eastern Caribbean.”

Royal Virgin Islands Police

Detective Inspector Mike Jones, Head of Intelligence for the Royal Virgin Islands Police added: “This is a great example of the close working relationship between the U.S. and the UK overseas territories.

“The excellent work of the U.S. Coast Guard forced the crew of the go-fast vessel to jettison their cargo. We will continue to work closely with all agencies and partners in order to disrupt and detect the movement of narcotics, illegal money and people trafficking.”

USCGC Richard Etheridge is a 154-foot fast response cutter homeported in Miami.

About the agencies involved

CBIG

This group was formally created to unify efforts of the US Customs and Border Protection, the US Coast Guard, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, and Puerto Rico Police Joint Forces of Rapid Action (FURA, for its Spanish acronym), in their common goal of securing the maritime borders of Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands against illegal migrant and drug smuggling threats. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Federal Bureau of Investigations are also integral partners of the CBIG.

CCSF / OCDTEF and others

This is an initiative of the US Attorney’s Office created to disrupt and dismantle major drug trafficking organisations operating in the Caribbean. CCSF is part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) that investigates South American-based drug trafficking organisations responsible for the movement of multi-kilogramme quantities of narcotics using the Caribbean as a trans-shipment point for further distribution to the United States. The initiative is composed of HSI, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Coast Guard, the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico and Puerto Rico Police Department’s (PRPD) Joint Forces for Rapid Action.

News continues below Covid-19 jabs to seafarers at no charge Covid-19 jabs to seafarers at no charge Picture: www.northseaport.com © Crew services specialist Boers has launched seafarer vaccination programmes at German and Belgian ports, as shipping executives warn of onboard Covid-19 outbreaks as it is reported that seafarers are not getting vaccines quick enough. Seafarers arriving at ports in Antwerp, Ghent and Zeebrugge can get one-shot Covid-19 jabs through Boers’ scheme, which is being launched to protect key workers in the shipping industry. The Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine will be available free of charge until further notice to all mariners of any nationality arriving in Belgium for crew changes. There is a fee for the medical services provided by the port authorities. Vaccination is absolutely vital In the words of Hans Boers, Co-CEO of Boers, the Netherlands-based shipping crew transport services operator for Northern Europe: ‘Getting as many seafarers as possible vaccinated is absolutely vital to supply chains and global markets. ‘We have seen with the crew change crisis the challenges shipping companies face in hiring seafarers for their vessels, creating a shortage of available mariners which in turn has led to rising prices for goods, food and petrol as demand outstrips supply. ‘For us, the most important thing is making sure crew members entering Belgian ports have access to free Covid-19 jabs. Protecting seafarers from the virus is paramount – and we have the means to help do that. The more mariners who have the vaccine, the quicker shipping and life in general can return to normal.’ Boers recently began offering free jabs to mariners at German ports in Hamburg and Bremerhaven. The company also provides vaccinations at ports in the Netherlands, albeit for just Dutch-flagged or Dutch-owned vessels but it plans to extend this service to all seafarers, it is reported. While Boers is supporting efforts to vaccinate all seafarers, maritime executives such as Esben Poulsson, Chairman of the International Chamber of Shipping, say the new delta strain of Covid-19 has hampered the shipping industry. Poulsson added that crew changes were not happening quickly enough to satisfy increased demand for products, especially from the US and Europe in the lead up to Christmas, putting more pressure on already strained global supply chains. He also criticised government figures for continuing to stick their heads in the sand. Stephen Cotton, General Secretary, International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), expressed similar concerns about the crew change crisis. He commented: ‘The situation is going from bad to worse,” he said. “We need more than lip service from governments; we need concrete action that allows crew changes to be carried out in a safe manner.’ IMO SG’s comment Meanwhile, IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim has urged IMO member states to support a fair global distribution of Covid-19 vaccines, to ensure seafarers have access to jabs. He said: ‘No seafarers should be left behind or forced to forgo their careers because of limited resources in their home country.’ He added that shipping companies needed to provide testing, appropriate PPE and access to medical and sanitation facilities, to protect crew members and prevent the virus spreading. How to apply At Belgian ports, seafarers who want the Covid-19 vaccine must apply at least 48 hours before their ship is berthed. Application forms, which should include the vessel information, expected time of arrival and details of the mariner wanting the vaccination, must be sent to info@boers-crewservices.nl On receiving the application, the port’s maritime medical centre will either confirm or refuse the request. Vaccinations on vessels are available for five or more crew members, with groups of four or fewer having to go to the medical centre. Any Covid-19 jab will be recorded in the seafarer’s vaccination booklet. In Germany, Boers offers around 30 shots on Tuesdays and Thursdays and approximately 40 shots on Saturdays to seafarers at Hamburg’s port. Details for the number of vaccines available in Bremerhaven and on what days are being finalised. Shipping companies wanting vaccines for their seafarers at German ports need to provide Boers with a crew list, vaccination passport, the vessel’s contact details and a patient agreement and information sheet signed by the crew member. Edited by Paul Ridgway London Added 12 August 2021 ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦aul Ridgway, London Correspondent for Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news

 

 

 

Reported by Paul Ridgway
London

Added 5 September 2021

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New Egyptian railway to link Red Sea and Mediterranean

Siemen's Vectron freight locomotive. Picture: Siemens Mobility, featured in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news
Siemen’s Vectron freight locomotive. Picture: Siemens Mobility

A new rail network linking the Mediterranean with the Red Sea in Egypt has been announced, with the the first 660km of a total length of 1,800km connecting the port cities of Ain Sokhna on the Red Sea to Alexandria and Marsa Matrouh on the Mediterranean.

The new railway aims at ensuring a reliable and sustainable rail system that can provide efficient and safe transportation for people and freight between Egypt’s economic and developmental centres. The contract with the consortium covers design, installation and maintenance of the new rail link over 15 years, said a cabinet statement last week.

While also making available safe, fast and clean affordable rail services to over 30 million passengers annually, the network will ensure fast and reliable delivery of freight to positively impact the country’s economy. The rail between Ain Sokhna and Alexandria will become a Suez Canal type link utilising Egypt’s first ever high-speed, electrified rail transport.

Egypt's Port of Sokhna on the northern Red Sea coast, featured in Africa PORTS & SHIPS maritime news
Egypt’s Port of Ain Sokhna on the northern Red Sea coast, 55kms south of the Suez Canal

According to Siemens Mobility, which will deliver its Velaro high speed trains, Desiro high-capacity regional train sets and Vectron freight locomotives, the electrified line will cut carbon emissions by 70%, in comparison to the current car and bus transportation.

For the first phase of the new rail network, the consortium of Siemens Mobility, Orascom Construction and Arab Contractors will directly create more than 15,000 jobs, with an additional 3,800 being initiated by Egyptian suppliers and indirectly through the wider Egyptian economy.

The signaling system is to be based on the latest computer-based interlocking technology and European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 2, and Siemens will provide and integrate not only the latest communications, safety and security systems, but also the power supply system to deliver efficient and continuous energy.

Added 5 September 2021

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