South Africa’s Transnet Requires $669 Million to Revive Coal Export Line

South Africa’s state-owned rail company, Transnet, needs $669 million and five years to upgrade its equipment to restore the performance of its main coal export line, according to an internal report. Coal shipments dropped to a three-decade low of 48 million tons last year due to inefficiencies at Transnet, which attributed its struggles to a shortage of locomotives and spare parts. Additionally, infrastructure faults and signaling system issues are major

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Benguela Railway to Restore Regular Train Services by November 2024

The Benguela Railway (CFB) has announced plans to resume regular train services between October and November 2024, addressing current limitations on seating capacity caused by technical issues. In a statement issued to Jornal de Angola, CFB apologized for the disruptions affecting daily rail transport for users in the provinces of Huambo, Moxico, Bié, and Lundas Norte and Sul. The reduction in seating has significantly impacted communities along the railway line

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South Africa’s Ports to Improve Within 14 Months, Transnet Pledges

South Africa’s ports, ranked among the world’s worst, are set for significant improvement within the next 12 to 14 months, according to Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni. She stated that State-owned operator Transnet is committed to fixing the ports, which have been plagued by years of poor governance and infrastructure collapse. Despite challenges, including an energy crisis and a collapsing rail system, the new multi-party government led by President

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Transnet National Ports Authority Gradually Resumes Operations After Severe Western Cape Storms

Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has announced the gradual resumption of operations after severe storms hit the Western Cape coast, leading to a temporary suspension of shipping movements for safety reasons. In a statement released late Thursday, TNPA reported that operations at the Port Elizabeth Bulk Terminal, Saldanha, and Cape Town Multipurpose Terminal had resumed on Wednesday. However, some ports are still facing challenges due to adverse weather conditions. “The

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Container Rates Expected to Ease in Late 2024 Amid Market Shifts

Container rates are likely to ease in the second half of 2024 if current conditions persist without significant changes, according to the latest market update from Container xChange. This anticipated reduction could lead to an increase in container buyer activity, as buyers are currently waiting for prices to decline before resuming trading and leasing activities. The market outlook for the latter half of the year depends heavily on a revival

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Shipping Companies Aim to Improve Fruit Quality by Controlling Full Reefer Logistics Chain

Shipping companies are increasingly taking control of the entire reefer logistics chain, from farm to final destination, to improve fruit quality and reduce wastage, according to logistics consultant Andy Connell. “It is inefficient to use reefers solely for port-to-port transport. They are mobile warehouses with refrigeration capabilities,” Connell told Freight News. “Reefers should be packed and kept under hermetically sealed conditions as close as possible to the point of production.

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German Dock Workers Strike Amid Heated Wage Negotiations

German dock workers have launched strikes across the country as wage negotiations between the United Services Union (ver.di) and port operators intensify. Ver.di called for full-shift warning strikes at the Ports of Bremen and Wilhelmshaven on Wednesday and Thursday, while workers at the Ports of Hamburg and Bremerhaven initiated strikes on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Port of Emden saw strikes on Wednesday only. This strike action aims to pressure employers

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Eighteen Filipino Seafarers Rescued off Cape West Coast

Eighteen Filipino seafarers have been rescued off the Cape West Coast after abandoning their severely listing Panama-registered cargo vessel, the MV Ultra Galaxy. The South African Maritime Safety Authority (Samsa) announced that the seafarers were found in a life raft about 60 nautical miles from Doringbaai in the Atlantic Ocean early Monday morning. The life raft was detected around 3 a.m., prompting an immediate rescue response. A Mayday call was

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Namibia and Botswana Progress on Joint Border Infrastructure Development

The Joint Steering Committee meeting held last week, led by NamRA Commissioner Sam Shivute and Botswana Unified Revenue Service Commissioner General Jeanette Makgolo, convened to discuss progress reports at Charleshill in Botswana. This significant gathering was also attended by notable figures such as Road Fund Administration Chief Executive Officer Ali Ipinge and Fidelis Mwazi, head of the Namibian Agronomic Board, who both serve as committee members. The committee evaluated advancements

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Rio Tinto SimFer Achieves Key Milestone in Simandou Rail Project Ahead of Schedule

In early July 2024, Rio Tinto SimFer announced the successful completion of bridge piling for the rail spur between Beyla and Kérouané, a critical part of the Simandou project. The construction team demonstrated exceptional efficiency, completing the task five months ahead of schedule. Over 165 days, they constructed 327 piles, poured 12,186 tonnes of concrete, and averaged two piles per day. If laid end to end, the piles would measure

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