Peel Ports Group, the UK’s second-largest port operator, is calling for contractors to bid on two new frameworks aimed at overseeing a significant long-term construction program across its sites in the UK and Ireland, totaling £750 million. The port operator intends to engage contractors for two frameworks spanning up to eight years. One framework will focus on general construction, while the other will address marine construction. These frameworks will encompass
Author: Constance Makungu
Transnet’s Innovative Water Desalination Plant to Boost Port of East London
Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) is set to enhance water reliability at the Port of East London with the development of a pioneering water desalination plant. The R60-million contract has been awarded to the joint venture of Norland Civil Engineers and Contractors and Impact Water Solutions (PTY) Ltd (IWS), trading as Sun Water East London, to construct and operate the solar-powered desalination plant over seven years. TNPA’s acting chief executive,
Legal Battle Brews Over Durban Port Privatization Bid
South Africa’s logistics utility has confirmed its opposition to a bid by the ports operator of AP Moller-Maersk to halt the privatization process at the Port of Durban by International Container Terminal Services Incorporated (ICTSI). The dispute arose following reports that APM Terminals (APMT) filed papers at the Durban High Court, alleging it was not given a fair opportunity to contest ICTSI’s bid, despite ICTSI being awarded the contract as
Fierce wind disrupts cargo at the Port of Cape Town
Severe storms disrupted container movement at the Port of Cape Town last week when wind speeds of up to 110 kilometres an hour forced ship-to-shore (STS) cranes to shut down automatically. According to Freight News contributor Clifford Evans, one of the STS units recorded wind speed of about 60 knots at the port yesterday morning. It brought container movement to a halt as the hoisting and parallel movement of containers
Liner collides with MPV in Port of Cape Town
Strong winds and large swells are mentioned as possible contributing factors to the collision between a cruise liner and a berthed cargo vessel in the Port of Cape Town on Friday morning, April 5. The Ambience, a 240-metre cruise liner with about 1 400 people on board, was apparently on its way to the passenger terminal when it collided with the Grey Fox, a general cargo multipurpose vessel (MPV). No injuries were reported.
Canal relief ahead as rain clouds gather over Panama
Decreased movement through one of the most important waterway shortcuts for ocean cargo between Asia and the Americas could soon be eased as weather forecasts predict plenty of rain heading towards Panama. Because of a drought, the Panama Canal Authority (PCA) was forced to limit ship passages to 24 per day until April 2024 due to dropping water levels in Gatún Lake, a man-made reservoir that supplies water to the
Transnet Port Terminals Prepares for Citrus Export Surge
Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) is gearing up to support the upcoming citrus export season, as forecasts predict a significant 15% increase in volumes for 2024. Michelle van Buren Schele, TPT’s general manager of commercial and planning, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to facilitating a successful export season for the citrus fruit industry. To accommodate the higher volume of traffic, TPT has implemented several measures across its container terminals in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).
Cargo crime weighs heavily on South Africa’s transport sector
Recent research conducted by the Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA) has shed light on the concerning state of security within South Africa’s supply chains. Over the past year, the country has grappled with more than 40,000 crimes affecting supply chains, as reported by the South African Police Service. These incidents, ranging from high-profile truck hijackings to common robberies and stock theft, underscore the pervasive nature of security threats faced by
$2.4 billion set aside for modernising transport in the US
President Joe Biden’s administration has revealed that it will pay $2.4 billion in grants aimed at modernising freight and passenger rail infrastructure across the United States. The move is part of Biden’s broader initiative to enhance America’s transportation network and bolster economic growth through improved rail systems. According to the US Department of Transport, the grants will be allocated to upgrading and expanding rail infrastructure to enhance efficiency, safety, and
Confronting the China Challenge in Africa: The Lobito Corridor
The Lobito Corridor project in Africa is a significant infrastructure initiative aimed at creating a vital trade route. It seeks to connect the mineral-rich Democratic Republic of the Congo (“DRC”) and Zambia to Angola’s Atlantic coast port city of Lobito. This project holds particular interest for some Western nations, potentially serving as a counterpoint to China’s expansive Belt and Road Initiative (“BRI”). China remains a dominant economic force in Africa,