Somalia and Ethiopia have announced plans to begin technical negotiations by February next year to resolve tensions surrounding Ethiopia’s proposal to develop a port in Somaliland, the self-declared breakaway region of Somalia. Both nations have committed to concluding these talks within four months. The conflict originated in January when Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed proposed securing access to a port in Somaliland. In return, Ethiopia would offer Somaliland a stake
Category: Ports & Terminals
Durban DCT Pier 2 Boosts Operational Efficiency with New Diesel-Electric Straddle Carriers
The Durban Container Terminal (DCT) Pier 2 has taken delivery of the first of 20 diesel-electric straddle carriers, marking a significant milestone in its fleet renewal program. The straddle carrier, delivered this week, will undergo assembly and commissioning on-site, with four additional carriers set to be handed over for endurance testing later this month. Full operations are expected to begin in mid-January 2025. This delivery is part of DCT’s ongoing
US Ports Anticipate Surge in Imports Amid Potential Strike and Tariff Increase
With a potential strike looming at East and Gulf Coast ports in January and President-elect Donald Trump planning to raise tariffs, the United States’ major container ports are expected to experience a continued surge in imports. The latest Global Port Tracker report, released by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates, forecasts that the surge will last until spring 2025. “Either a strike or new tariffs would be a
Port of Beira Welcomes One of the World’s Largest Cargo Ships
On Friday, November 22, the Port of Beira in Sofala province, central Mozambique, hosted one of the world’s largest cargo ships. The 300-meter-long Post Panamax vessel, carrying 1,800 containers of diverse cargo, is operated by an international shipping company. Miguel de Jenga, Operations Director at Cornelder de Moçambique, the concessionaire managing the port, highlighted the ship’s arrival as a testament to the port’s growing competitiveness and its modernized infrastructure. Preparations
KRA System Outage at Mombasa Port Stalls Operations
A sudden breakdown in the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) system has brought operations at the Port of Mombasa to a standstill, causing significant financial losses. Kenya’s tea sector, which typically generates around $25 million (Sh3.2 billion) per week by exporting roughly 150 tea containers daily, has been particularly affected, with a backlog of 750 containers now stranded at the port. Exporters are incurring heavy losses from mounting demurrage and logistics
Grindrod Halts Mozambique Port Operations Amid South Africa Border Closure and Unrest
Logistics company Grindrod has suspended port and terminal operations in Mozambique following South Africa’s temporary closure of the main border with its northeastern neighbor. The border closure was enacted over safety concerns due to violent post-election protests in Mozambique, which human rights organizations report have resulted in at least 18 deaths. The suspension is expected to impact goods and commodities transport in a region already grappling with logistical bottlenecks. State-owned
DP World Unveils £1-Billion Expansion to Transform London Gateway into UK’s Largest Container Port
Global logistics leader DP World has announced a £1-billion expansion of London Gateway, set to establish it as Britain’s largest container port within five years. The investment will fund the construction of two additional shipping berths, bringing the port’s capacity to six berths capable of accommodating the world’s largest container vessels. Additionally, a second rail terminal will be constructed to support the anticipated growth in containerized trade. By the end
MSC Acquires Majority Stake in Brazilian Port Operator Wilson Sons
Mediterranean Shipping Company’s maritime services subsidiary, SAS Shipping Agencies Services, has agreed to acquire a 56.47% controlling stake in Brazilian port operator Wilson Sons for 4.3 billion Brazilian real (R13.44 billion). In a regulatory filing, Wilson Sons confirmed it received notification from its controlling shareholder, OW Overseas Investments, regarding the execution of a share purchase agreement. This agreement involves OW Overseas (the seller) and SAS Shipping Agencies Services Sàrl (the
Brazil’s Port Privatization Strategy Expands with Auction of 35 Terminals
Brazil has announced plans to auction off 35 terminals as part of its ongoing privatization efforts, marking a key step in the country’s strategy to modernize its port infrastructure. This announcement follows the recent acquisition by MSC subsidiary SAS Shipping Agencies Services, which secured a 56.47% stake in port operator Wilson Sons for 4.3 billion Brazilian reais. The government’s initiative aims to enhance efficiency and competitiveness in global trade by
AFC Report Highlights Inefficiencies in Africa’s Logistics Despite Port Investments
A new report from the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) raises concerns that significant investments in ports across the continent have not translated into improved inland logistics and supply chains. Since 2005, African ports have attracted an estimated $15 billion in investments, enabling upgrades and modernization to accommodate larger vessels and increased cargo volumes. Data from the African Development Bank reveals that container traffic through African ports surged nearly 50%, rising