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
Category: Ports & Terminals
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
Transnet Enhances South African Port Operations with New Shore Tension Units
Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has delivered six hydraulic shore tension units to the Ports of Cape Town and Ngqura, aiming to reduce shipping and cargo delays caused by high swells and adverse weather conditions. This recent delivery increases the total number of units to 12, part of a larger batch of 52 shore tension systems procured in September 2023. Previously, eight units were already installed at these ports. The
Crane Collapse Temporarily Halts Operations at Yantian Port
Operations at the Port of Yantian were temporarily suspended following the partial collapse of a ship-to-shore (STS) crane onto a feeder container ship operated by the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC). The incident occurred around 08:40 local time in Shenzhen, involving the MSC Riona, a 1998-built feeder vessel with a capacity of 1,730 TEU, which was on an intra-Asia route when the collision happened. Local reports indicate that the crane was
Unifeeder’s Maputo Service Sees Growth in Exports from Eswatini
Unifeeder’s weekly ocean freight service via the Port of Maputo, initially launched in 2022 for citrus exports from South Africa’s Letsitele and the Lowveld, is now experiencing significant growth in exports from Matsapha, Eswatini. Logan Naidoo, Unifeeder’s Southern Africa representative, highlighted the success of the twice-daily rail service from Matsapha to the Mozambican port. The two-hour journey moves dry bulk cargo, particularly from Eswatini’s thriving sugar industry, to the terminal
Walvis Bay Port Set for Major Revamp as Terminal Investment Namibia Takes Over Operations
Namibia’s Port of Walvis Bay is entering a new phase following the long-awaited handover of container operations to Terminal Investment Namibia (TiN), a subsidiary of Terminal Investment Limited (TiL). The port’s revamped container facility, upgraded at a cost of $300 million, will now benefit from private sector management starting October 1, 2024, after delays pushed the original timeline back from 2023. TiN, a joint venture between state-owned Namport and TiL