Transnet has announced that component parts for 20 straddle carriers used at Durban Container Terminals (DCT) will be received by the end of November. This response comes as the state-owned logistics utility addresses ongoing equipment inefficiencies at DCT Pier 2. In a recent port update, Transnet acknowledged the low availability of straddle carriers, stating, “Despite our ongoing efforts, we are still experiencing low availability of straddle carriers, which is impacting
Category: Ports & Terminals
Namibia’s Tridock Shipyard to Launch $728 Million Drydock Facility at Walvis Bay
Tridock Shipyard Namibia (Pty) Ltd has unveiled plans for a cutting-edge drydock facility at Walvis Bay, projected to cost $728 million. The facility, expected to generate an initial annual revenue of US$150 million (N$2.7 billion), aims to double this revenue within three years of operation, according to a recent report in Mining & Energy. The project will create approximately 1,000 direct jobs, along with a range of downstream employment opportunities,
Transnet Pushes Forward with Review Process Amid Durban Terminal Dispute
Transnet has announced it will act quickly to advance Part B of the review process for the Durban Container Terminal (DCT) Pier 2 dispute, pledging to proceed “without undue delay.” On Friday, the state-owned company (SOC) issued a statement confirming it would soon petition the court for a preferential hearing date for the review. The statement follows a Durban High Court ruling this week in which APM Terminals (APMT), a
CMA CGM Expands Moroccan Presence with New Terminal at Nador West Med Port
French shipping giant CMA CGM has solidified its position in Morocco by partnering with local port operator Marsa Maroc to manage half of the new east terminal at the Nador West Med Port. Located in northeastern Morocco, this facility will have a capacity of 1.2 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) once fully operational. Industry experts, including Alphaliner, see Morocco’s strategy with Nador West Med as an effort to replicate the
South Africa’s Container Throughput Declines Amid Operational Challenges and Court Ruling
Following a relatively stable performance at the end of September, the beginning of October saw an 8% decline in container throughput at South African ports, dropping from a daily average of 8,072 to 7,384 containers week-on-week. The latest Cargo Movement Update, compiled by the South African Association of Freight Forwarders and Business Unity SA, indicated that port operations were primarily hampered by inclement weather, equipment breakdowns, and shortages. The report
Durban Container Terminal Concession Halted as Court Rules in Favor of APM Terminals
More than a year after South Africa’s freight industry learned that Transnet awarded a concession tender to International Container Terminal Services Incorporated (ICTSI) to operate Pier 2 at the Durban Container Terminal (DCT), the privatisation process has been halted—at least for now. This development follows a ruling by the Durban High Court in favor of an interdict application lodged by APM Terminals last October. Transnet had awarded ICTSI a 25-year
Gard Warns Seafarers of Legal Risks in Norway Over Drone Use at Ports
The Norwegian protection and indemnity association, Gard, has issued a caution to seafarers on the legal risks associated with drone use in ports, following a recent incident in Norway. A ship officer on a Gard member vessel was arrested and fined after using a personal drone to capture footage over the commercial Port of Hammerfest, where his ship was docked. The officer, a European national, now faces potential deportation due
USMX and ILA Strike Nears Resolution as Dockworkers Return to Ports
The labor dispute between the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) and the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) appears to be reaching a resolution, with dockworkers expected to resume operations as early as Friday, October 4, according to a communique from Scan Global Logistics. This update follows an agreement between the ILA and USMX to extend their contract negotiations until January 15 while working towards a comprehensive six-year deal. US President Joe
CMA CGM Acquires 48% Stake in Leading Brazilian Terminal Operator Santos Brasil
The CMA CGM Group has announced an agreement to acquire a 48% stake in Santos Brasil Participações S/A, a prominent Brazilian multi-terminal operator. This investment marks a significant expansion of CMA CGM’s presence in Brazil and aligns with the company’s global port development strategy. “Santos Brasil operates five terminals across Brazil, including the country’s largest container terminal at the Port of Santos, handling approximately 40% of Brazil’s container volume,” stated
Chancay Port Set to Become Major South America-Asia Shipping Hub
Peru’s Chancay Port, envisioned as a key trade link between South America and Asia, is set to begin shipping two container vessels per week by the end of November, according to Carlos Tejada, general manager of Cosco Shipping Chancay Peru, a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based Cosco Shipping. The port will initially provide a direct route to Shanghai, with potential expansion to other Asian destinations based on demand. Tejada explained that