Inadequate staffing, leading to sleep deprivation, has been identified as a significant contributor to the increasing number of accidents at sea. “Sleep deprivation heightens the risk of all types of accidents, especially falls and incidents involving heavy equipment,” says Houston-based law firm Arnold & Itkin. “This issue could be mitigated with shorter shifts, which would be possible with increased staffing. Even man overboard (MOB) accidents are partly a result of
Author: Constance Makungu
Ethiopia to Build Africa’s Largest Airport Near Addis Ababa
Ethiopia has embarked on a significant initiative to enhance its aviation infrastructure by signing an agreement to design a new airport near Bishoftu, approximately 45 kilometers from Addis Ababa. Spearheaded by Ethiopian Airlines, the project aims to establish the largest airport in Africa, with completion targeted for 2029. The new facility will feature four runways and is designed to accommodate up to 110 million passengers annually, making it the continent’s
India’s Major Ports Face Indefinite Strike as Dockworkers Demand Wage Resolution
Dockworkers at India’s twelve largest ports have announced an indefinite strike starting August 28, following prolonged and unsuccessful negotiations over wages and allowances that have been stalled for more than three years. The decision to strike was made after a two-day meeting at V.O. Chidambaranar Port in Thoothukudi, where members of the All India Port and Dock Workers’ Federation expressed their frustration over the ongoing deadlock in wage discussions. The
Fuel Transporters Avoid Zimbabwe Amid New Duty and Delays
Fuel transport operators to the Copperbelt are increasingly bypassing Zimbabwe due to a newly imposed duty aimed at curbing in-transit fuel theft. This development is leading to a significant shift in transportation routes. According to Mike Fitzmaurice, CEO of the Federation of East and Southern African Road Transport Associations (Fesarta), at least two major companies, which handle substantial market-share volumes, have already stopped using Zimbabwe as a transit route. This
Port of Durban Implements New Measures to Ease Container Congestion
Public and private stakeholders have agreed on a series of changes aimed at alleviating congestion and delays for harbour carriers at the Port of Durban. These adjustments primarily target the landside dispatch of containers and are set to be trialed over two weeks, starting from 06h00 on August 16. The changes focus on improving Transnet’s current truck-slot booking system, which has been plagued by IT failures, corruption, and inefficiencies, leading
Lufthansa Cargo Expands Fleet with 18th Boeing 777 Freighter
Lufthansa Cargo has taken delivery of its 18th Boeing 777 freighter, which arrived at Frankfurt Airport over the weekend. The long-haul aircraft was delivered directly from Boeing’s factory in Everett, USA, to the cargo airline’s largest hub in Frankfurt. “The B777F remains the most efficient and modern freighter in its class,” stated Ashwin Bhat, CEO of Lufthansa Cargo. “This latest addition to our fleet represents a significant investment in our
CMA CGM Belem Loses 99 Containers Off Richards Bay Amid Severe Weather
The container vessel CMA CGM Belem, sailing under the Maltese flag, encountered severe weather off the coast of Richards Bay over the weekend, resulting in the loss of 99 containers. The South African Maritime Safety Authority (Samsa) confirmed the incident, attributing it to a “significant stow collapse” during rough conditions on Friday night. Initially, the vessel sought refuge in Maputo Bay, but after further assessment, it was redirected to Gqeberha
Beitbridge Border Delays Resurface Despite $300 Million Overhaul
Traffic at the Beitbridge Border Post between South Africa and Zimbabwe has slowed to a frustrating pace, reminiscent of the pre-overhaul congestion. The border was redesigned by concessionaire Zimborders at a cost of $300 million, with the goal of streamlining cargo processing and reducing transit times. Despite these efforts, the situation has deteriorated, with truckers now facing delays of 24 hours or more, particularly on northbound routes. The $200 transit
Algeria and Tunisia Reopen Railway Link After Three Decades
After a 30-year hiatus, the railway connection between Algeria and Tunisia is officially back in operation. The service, initially halted in 1995 due to security concerns and again suspended in 2003 due to technical issues, marks a significant step in strengthening economic and social ties between the two North African nations. The National Company for Rail Transport in Algeria announced the resumption of services, with the inaugural commercial journey departing
INFOTUR Leverages Lobito Corridor to Boost National Tourism
The Institute for Tourism Promotion (INFOTUR) plans to capitalize on the Lobito Corridor to enhance national tourism, announced the General Director, Lukeni Araújo, in Luanda. During the operation of the Rovos Rail luxury train this month, which travels between Lobito, Angola, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) after originating in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, a total of 124 tourists were transported—60 entering Angola and 64 leaving. Araújo emphasized that