Rising Vessel Fires Claim Eight Seafarers in 2025, Sparking Safety Concerns Eight seafarers have lost their lives in vessel fires since June, highlighting mounting concerns within the maritime sector about the growing scale and complexity of onboard fire risks. The most recent fatality occurred last weekend, when a delivery ship captain died at the Port of Yeosu in South Korea. Container shipping has accounted for most of the recent casualties,
Author: Constance Makungu
Explosion on Cargo Ship Halts Traffic at Baltimore Port
Baltimore Cargo Ship Explosion Shuts Port Channel, Sparks Investigation US investigators are probing the cause of an explosion aboard a coal-carrying cargo ship that shook the Port of Baltimore on Monday evening as the vessel set sail for East Africa. The blast lit up the night sky with flames and a thick plume of smoke over the Patapsco River, forcing the closure of the port’s main shipping channel. No injuries
DHL and Partners Roll Out South Africa’s First Electric Volvo Truck
DHL Tests Africa’s First Electric Volvo Truck in Partnership with Unilever to Drive Greener Logistics DHL Supply Chain has launched a landmark electric vehicle (EV) pilot in South Africa, partnering with Unilever and Volvo Trucks to advance sustainable freight transport on the continent. The project introduces Africa’s first fully electric Volvo FMX 6X4 tractor, coupled with an 18-metre curtain-sided superlink double trailer, to support Unilever’s supply chain operations. The pilot
Nigeria Unveils $60B High-Speed Rail Linking Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt
Nigeria Plans 4,000km High-Speed Rail Network to Connect Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and Port Harcourt Nigeria has announced plans to construct a 4,000-kilometre high-speed rail network aimed at connecting key economic corridors, boosting trade, and promoting national integration. The announcement followed a meeting in Abuja between the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, and the management of De-Sadel Nigeria Limited along with its financial partner, China
South Africa’s Transport Sector Shows Progress Amid Persistent Challenges
South Africa Freight and Ports Make Gains, but Crime, Funding, and Infrastructure Issues Slow Recovery South Africa is making strides toward overhauling its struggling transport systems, but recovery in the logistics sector is being hampered by ongoing challenges, including crime, asset failures, funding constraints, institutional gaps, and port inefficiencies, according to Business Leadership SA (BLSA). In its Quarterly Review (QR) released on August 12, BLSA commended initiatives such as the
South Africa’s Container Ports Exceed Weekly Throughput Expectations
South Africa Ports See 14.7% Weekly Container Throughput Growth, Port Elizabeth Leads South Africa’s container ports outperformed anticipated throughput targets during the week of August 4–10, according to the latest Cargo Movement Update (CMU). Compiled from data by the South African Association of Freight Forwarders (Saaff) and Business Unity South Africa (Busa), the CMU shows an average of 13,121 TEUs handled daily, representing an increase of 1,683 TEUs per 24-hour
DP World Reports Strong H1 2025 Results Amid Global Trade Challenges
DP World H1 2025 Revenue Surges 20% Driven by Ports, Terminals, and Acquisitions DP World has reported robust financial and operational results for the first half of 2025, demonstrating the resilience of its integrated global trade platform amid ongoing geopolitical and economic uncertainties. The results, released on August 14, 2025, show a 20.4% year-on-year revenue increase, reaching US$11.244 billion, fueled by strong performance across Ports & Terminals and contributions from
Tanzania and Burundi Break Ground on $2.15 Billion Cross-Border Standard Gauge Railway
Tanzania, Burundi Launch $2.15B Uvinza–Musongati SGR to Boost Trade and Regional Integration Tanzania and Burundi have officially launched construction of a state-of-the-art standard gauge railway (SGR) linking Uvinza in western Tanzania to Musongati in eastern Burundi. The 240-kilometre cross-border line, valued at over $2.15 billion, is the first of its kind in East Africa. The project was inaugurated with a foundation stone-laying ceremony led by Tanzanian Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa.
Japan Pledges Stronger Economic Ties with Africa and Indian Ocean States
Japan’s PM Shigeru Ishiba Calls for Deeper Africa–Indian Ocean Cooperation with New Investments Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has urged closer cooperation between Africa and Indian Ocean states, pledging greater investment and improved connectivity to stimulate economic growth. Speaking at the Indian Ocean–Africa Economic Partnership Forum, held alongside the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), Ishiba highlighted the region’s young population, abundant natural resources, and vast growth potential. The
CEVA Project Logistics Executes 2,900 km Cross-Border Operation
CEVA Project Logistics Completes 2,900 km Cross-Border Heavy Transport from Durban to Kolwezi The Project Logistics team at CEVA successfully executed a highly complex transportation project spanning nearly 2,900 kilometers across South Africa, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The operation required navigating challenging terrains, meeting a critical delivery deadline, and managing extensive cross-border compliance requirements. The project demanded an exceptionally short timeline between initiation and delivery. To