South Africa News

The Panama Canal Authority places great emphasis on providing world-class, reliable services to all its customers. Amidst current challenges, the authority is taking proactive measures to ensure its competitiveness and operational capacity for today and the future. Chief among these challenges is the critical issue of freshwater availability for both the population’s consumption and the transit of vessels. Water efficiency Since the previous drought in 2019-2020, the Canal has been im...

Brunvoll has received an order for the delivery of propulsion and manoeuvring packages for Purus Wind's new Commissioning Service Operation Vessels (CSOV). The delivery is for two vessels, with two additional vessels as an option. Each vessel will be outfitted with two azimuth thrusters for propulsion, and two retractable azimuth thrusters and a tunnel thruster for manoeuvring. The scope of supply features also Brunvoll’s Propulsion and Thruster Control system, BruCon PTC. Latest and gre...

Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine Coatings has issued a message of advice to those working in the protection of structural steel who are affected by the new Building Safety Act 2022 as the date approaches for it to become enforceable to ensure users understand their obligations. High-risk buildings From October 2023, all buildings must be registered with the newly established Building Safety Regulator (BSR), and those of at least 18 metres in height or with at least seven storeys contai...

GTMaritime, pioneering experts in secure maritime data communications solutions, has released a new whitepaper that assesses the impact Low Earth Orbit (LEO) networks are having on the maritime industry and key considerations for wider adoption. Available to download free of charge, Opportunities and Challenges: Introducing New LEO Networks to the Maritime Industry, offers an insightful overview of commercial shipping’s first movers in LEO network service use. It outlines the potential fo...

Maritime sectors must work together to enable the shipping industry to meet the challenges it faces over the coming years and to develop a greener and more sustainable future. Speaking in the first of a series of video interviews for London International Shipping Week 2023 (LISW23), Pino Spadafora, Senior Director, Global Marine Commercial & Strategy, for classification society - RINA, pointed out that LISW23 provides ‘an incredible platform’ for shipping executives to share exp...

Rodman Polyships S.A.U., a Rodman Group Shipyard specialised in the construction of all types of GRP (Glass fibre Reinforced Polyester) boats and vessels, is building 3 new Offshore Patrol Vessels for the Surveillance Service of the Spanish Tax Agency. The signing of this new contract took place in January and after a few months of initial design and project planning; Rodman is now in the construction stage of the first units. These days the initial stage of the lamination process for the first...

Dutch energy storage systems provider EST-Floattech-Energy Storage Solutions is contracted to provide battery systems for the world’s first fully electric carbon-neutral event vessel, the Oceandiva London, which enters service on the River Thames later in 2023 or early 2024. Green Orca system The 86 meters long and 17 metres wide vessel batteries are charged by both green fast-charging shore power and onboard solar panels, with a biofuel generator as a backup for longer excursions.&nbs...

OceanWise team undertook an installation in July 2023 for the UK Hydrographic Office in Anguilla, a British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean. The successful trip formed part of the Marine Environmental Monitoring Systems (MEMS) – A 3-year framework agreement that OceanWise has been contracted to complete by the UK Hydrographic Office, which includes a variety of installations, provision of a data platform, shore control, and GNSS surveys, as well as local training and mentoring. ...

Akiem, a renowned European rolling stock leasing company, has ordered an additional 15 Vectron AC and Vectron MS locomotives from Siemens Mobility. The order was placed as part of a framework agreement for the purchase of locomotives that was signed in December 2021. Locomotives from this new call will be delivered between 2025 and 2027. Akiem previously ordered 20 Vectron locomotives from Siemens Mobility in December 2021 and an additional 65 units last August. Akiem order for Vectron locomot...

OCI Global and X-Press Feeders have announced that OCI Hyfuels will supply X-Press Feeders with green methanol in the Port of Rotterdam from 2024. The milestone agreement is the first green methanol deal with a feeder container carrier and represents a crucial step in the decarbonisation of the shipping chain, as the feeder industry plays an important role in supporting the ultimate carrier. X-Press Feeders will be the first common feeder operator with methanol-fuelled vessels on the water in E...

Robert Allan Ltd. is pleased to announce that Cao Gang 30 and Cao Gang 31 were successfully delivered to the owner Caofeidian Port, in the northern part of China in July 2023. The newly completed RAmparts 3500 tugs were built by Zhenjiang Shipyard (Group) Co., Ltd. The new vessels were designed by Robert Allan Ltd. for operation in Bohai Bay for towing, vessel assistance, and fire-fighting purposes. New RAmparts 3500 tugs delivered The new vessels were designed based on a well-proven RAmparts...

LSEG (London Stock Exchange Group) and Siglar Carbon, a maritime emissions analytics company, have announced an agreement to enable customers to evaluate the different carbon options for cargo programmes via Workspace. Carbon consequence of shipping The agreement will combine Siglar’s emissions insights with LSEG’s industry-pioneering European carbon markets and industry emissions analytics to help charterers, traders, brokers, and ship owners understand, predict, and improve...

Hellenic Marine Equipment Manufacturers and Exporters (HEMEXPO), a major suppliers and exporters association for the international shipping sector, has reached an agreement with the world’s renowned classification society, DNV, for the assessment of energy-saving devices (ESDs) produced by HEMEXPO member companies. Stepwise ESD assessment Under the terms of the agreement, in the first instance, DNV will review a makers list provided by HEMEXPO to identify ESDs that fall in the category o...

ABS issued Approval in Principle (AiP) to HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) for its new ammonia-based ship HVAC refrigeration system. Eco-friendly refrigerant HHI developed the system in response to shipowners’ requests for refrigeration of HVAC systems using ammonia, a more eco-friendly refrigerant with a zero ozone depletion potential (ODP) and a Global Warming Potential of zero per the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc. (ASHRAE). ABS used...

Furuno (headquartered in Nishinomiya City; President and CEO: Yukio Furuno) will participate in the Joint Technological Development Program for the Demonstration of Fully Autonomous Ships under the MEGURI 2040 Fully Autonomous Ship Project (‘MEGURI2040’), administrated by the Nippon Foundation, as a member of the Designing the Future of Fully Autonomous Ships Plus consortium (“DFFAS+”), which comprises 51 companies based in Japan. On July 20, the Nippon Foundation held a...

ABS hosted a containership summit in Germany to provide a holistic overview of the container shipping landscape, the current and developing regulatory framework, as well as strategic decisions in terms of emerging technologies and alternative fuels options that will shape the low-carbon future of container shipping and drive market growth. More ambitious regulations “We expect the IMO to release more ambitious regulations this year to move the industry forward with decarbonisation goals....

The Nigerian Navy says assets acquired by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA under the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure, otherwise known as the Deep Blue project, have been deployed across the Southwest, Central and Eastern Zonal operations to enhance patrol of the Nigerian maritime domain. The Acting Fleet Commander, Western Naval Command and Commander Deep Blue Project, Commodore Victor Choji made the declaration, during a workin...

ABS brought together maritime industry leaders from the United Kingdom (UK) to discuss the latest advances in sustainability and transformational technologies. Attendees at the UK National Committee Meeting heard how the ABS-classed fleet had grown to 280 million gross tons and secured the number one position in global order-book share. Decarbonisation ABS is leading the maritime industry in decarbonisation and sustainability solutions" “ABS is leading the maritime industry in decarbon...

Tokyo-based classification society - ClassNK has granted its Innovation Endorsement for Products & Solutions to a CII management solution called Bearing CII Optimizer, developed by Bearing, Inc. In order to promote the spread and development of innovative technologies, ClassNK has offered Innovation Endorsement for Products & Solutions. ClassNK supports the deployment of products and services through third-party certification for equipment and software technology with innovative functi...

Classification society American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) awarded Seaspan Corporation and the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping (MMMCZCS) in collaboration with Foreship an Approval in Principle (AiP) for the design of a 15,000 TEU ammonia-powered container vessel. The certificates were presented at the ABS office in Copenhagen on July 25th, 2023. Ammonia: alternative marine fuel Ammonia is a promising alternative marine fuel. However, there are currently no sh...

Harbour Commission Vice President, Bobby Olvera Jr. was elected on Monday as President of the Long Beach Board of Harbour Commissioners, the five-member panel that oversees the Port of Long Beach. The board also selected Bonnie Lowenthal as Vice President and Frank Colonna as Secretary.   Each July, Commissioners select a President and two Board Officers for one-year terms. The Commission’s new officers will begin their terms at the next regularly scheduled meeting, on Monday, Augus...

EU Member States cleared the way to bring sustainable renewable fuels into maritime transport. They approved the "FuelEU Maritime" regulation. On 12 July 2023, the EU Parliament also voted in favour of the agreement reached in the trilogue procedure. New requirements The new requirements will apply to ships with a gross tonnage of more than 5,000 entering, leaving, or staying in ports in the territory of an EU Member State. In addition, shore-side electricity will be mandatory for container...

ClassNK has issued an Approval in Principle (AiP) for a cargo containment system (CCS) and cargo handling system (CHS) for a liquefied hydrogen carrier developed by GTT. Hydrogen is expected to be used as a source of clean energy for decarbonisation since it does not emit CO2 when combusted. The technological development for maritime hydrogen transportation is progressing actively with the aim of establishing a hydrogen supply chain.  Review of CCS and CHS ClassNK carried out the design...

Tokyo-based classification society, ClassNK has released the latest ‘ClassNK Technical Journal’, which has been published for contributing to the advancement of technology and society through the outcome of R&D and technical activities. ‘ClassNK Technical Journal’ The latest issue - ‘ClassNK Technical Journal No.7 2023 (I)’ focuses on efforts toward the safe operation of progressively larger container ships. It provides an overview of structural rules ap...

Algoma Central Corporation (Algoma) has ordered two, methanol-ready, 37,000-DWT, ice-class product tanker vessels to be built to ABS Class. This CAN$127m investment followed an order for two, new, 72,250-DWT, methanol-ready, Kamsarmax-based ocean belt self-unloading vessels that will also be built to ABS Class from Algoma. Algoma’s decarbonisation efforts The new product tankers will be entered on long-term time charters under the Canadian flag, trading primarily from Saint John, New Bru...

Crowley has been recognised by the Chamber of Shipping of America (CSA) with Jones F. Devlin Awards for the safe operations of 90 company-owned or -managed vessels. The Devlin Awards publicly recognises the skills and dedication of the men and women who are responsible for safe vessel operations and is presented to vessels that have operated for two full years or more without a crew member losing a full turn at watch because of an occupational injury. Crowley recognised with Jones F. Devlin Aw...

RST and Samskip are proud to announce the successful launch of their Green Shore Power initiative, which aims to dramatically reduce CO2 emissions produced by vessels docked, by providing new clean shore-powered energy solutions. The joint initiative is an example of what companies can do, if they have a common goal and join forces in the energy transition toward CO2 neutrality.  Shore power solution The shore power solution is the first of its kind for a container terminal in the Nether...

There’s no doubt the energy transition is set to be transformative for Scotland’s construction sector. The government’s Draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan, published earlier this year, carries a clear mandate to deliver an energy system this decade that enables us to become a net-zero nation by 2045. As demand continues to mount for renewable energy developments – from onshore and offshore wind to hydrogen, solar, marine and hydropower, and even projects aime...

At a ceremony at the IMO headquarters in London, H. E Suhail Al Mazrouei, United Arab Emirates (UAE) Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, and Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, CEO DNV Maritime, representing the Foundation Det Norske Veritas, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on establishing a new UAE Decarbonisation Centre. Maritime Decarbonisation Centre The Marine Environment Protection Committee’s (MEPC) 80th session this month showed that shipping is now on an accelerating path...

The volume of cargo transshipment at the Aktau port in Kazakhstan grew by 23% to over two million tonnes this year. Located on the northeastern shore of the Caspian Sea, the Aktau port, with three dry cargo and three oil terminals, holds utmost international importance in the system of distant cargo transportation. With a total throughput capacity of nearly 12 million tonnes, the Aktau port mainly exports grain and petroleum products. Author’s quote Kairat Kaliolla, chief mana...