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
Category: Shipping News
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).
Tanzania Ports Authority Slashes Fees, Boosting Zambia Trade
The Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) recently announced a significant reduction in wharfage rates for containerized cargo bound for Zambia, cutting costs by over 50%. This move, confirmed by Zambia’s Ministry of Transport and Logistics on April 6, 2024, is poised to greatly enhance the ease of doing business in Zambia. The lowered port charges at key Tanzanian ports such as Dar es Salaam, Tanga, and Mtwara mark a pivotal step
AGL Signs Contract to Manage Walvis Bay Terminal
On March 20, 2024, Africa Global Logistics (AGL) inked a deal to oversee operations at the Walvis Bay Multipurpose Bulk Terminal in Namibia, a pivotal moment witnessed by Tony Stenning, Regional Director for South Africa, and Andrew Kanime, CEO of Namport, the National Port Authority of Namibia. This appointment follows Namport’s international call for tenders initiated in January 2023, underscoring local authorities’ trust in AGL’s industrial vision and commitment to
Angola Ports Association Advocates for Maritime Transport Investment
The Angola Ports Association (APANG) advocates for increased investment in maritime transport to address challenges related to internal mobility and competitive pricing. Manuel Nazaré Neto, President of APANG, emphasized the importance of staff training, infrastructure development, and port equipment modernization in enhancing domestic maritime transport. He urged the private sector to prioritize maritime passenger transport, emphasizing its pivotal role in national development. Speaking at the fifth round table on “National
Namport Enhances Infrastructure for Economic Growth and Hydrocarbon Development in Namibia
Namibia’s ports, strategically positioned to access principal shipping routes, serve as pivotal gateways to the southern African region. Namport, operator of the ports of Walvis Bay and Lüderitz, aims to bolster regional integration and cross-border trade through expanding existing facilities and constructing a new deepwater port at Angra Point, CEO Andrew Kanime revealed in an interview with Energy Capital & Power. Namport, a 100%-government-owned commercial enterprise, holds the exclusive mandate
Africa Global Logistics Launches Operations at AGL Lobito Terminal in Angola
Africa Global Logistics (AGL) has commenced operations at the AGL Lobito Terminal, a container and multipurpose facility located at Angola’s Port of Lobito. The terminal, secured through an international tender in October 2023, boasts the capacity to handle over one million tons of bulk goods and 100,000 TEU containers annually. Designed to enhance the connectivity of the Lobito Port platform, the AGL Lobito Terminal facilitates the trade of minerals, agricultural