A Maersk container ship, carrying an estimated 327 tonnes of potentially hazardous waste, vanished from radar after the international watchdog group, the Basel Action Network (BAN), alerted the South African government about its arrival. The ship, named Maersk Campton, was scheduled to dock in Cape Town on August 1 but went off the grid after the warning. The ship is the first of two vessels reportedly transporting 100 containers of
Category: Southern Africa
Fuel Transporters Avoid Zimbabwe Amid New Duty and Delays
Fuel transport operators to the Copperbelt are increasingly bypassing Zimbabwe due to a newly imposed duty aimed at curbing in-transit fuel theft. This development is leading to a significant shift in transportation routes. According to Mike Fitzmaurice, CEO of the Federation of East and Southern African Road Transport Associations (Fesarta), at least two major companies, which handle substantial market-share volumes, have already stopped using Zimbabwe as a transit route. This
Port of Durban Implements New Measures to Ease Container Congestion
Public and private stakeholders have agreed on a series of changes aimed at alleviating congestion and delays for harbour carriers at the Port of Durban. These adjustments primarily target the landside dispatch of containers and are set to be trialed over two weeks, starting from 06h00 on August 16. The changes focus on improving Transnet’s current truck-slot booking system, which has been plagued by IT failures, corruption, and inefficiencies, leading
CMA CGM Belem Loses 99 Containers Off Richards Bay Amid Severe Weather
The container vessel CMA CGM Belem, sailing under the Maltese flag, encountered severe weather off the coast of Richards Bay over the weekend, resulting in the loss of 99 containers. The South African Maritime Safety Authority (Samsa) confirmed the incident, attributing it to a “significant stow collapse” during rough conditions on Friday night. Initially, the vessel sought refuge in Maputo Bay, but after further assessment, it was redirected to Gqeberha
Beitbridge Border Delays Resurface Despite $300 Million Overhaul
Traffic at the Beitbridge Border Post between South Africa and Zimbabwe has slowed to a frustrating pace, reminiscent of the pre-overhaul congestion. The border was redesigned by concessionaire Zimborders at a cost of $300 million, with the goal of streamlining cargo processing and reducing transit times. Despite these efforts, the situation has deteriorated, with truckers now facing delays of 24 hours or more, particularly on northbound routes. The $200 transit
INFOTUR Leverages Lobito Corridor to Boost National Tourism
The Institute for Tourism Promotion (INFOTUR) plans to capitalize on the Lobito Corridor to enhance national tourism, announced the General Director, Lukeni Araújo, in Luanda. During the operation of the Rovos Rail luxury train this month, which travels between Lobito, Angola, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) after originating in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, a total of 124 tourists were transported—60 entering Angola and 64 leaving. Araújo emphasized that
Port of Beira Sets New Record with 442,000 Tons Processed in July 2024
In July 2024, the Port of Beira’s General Cargo Terminal reached a historic milestone by processing a record-breaking 442,000 tons of cargo. This remarkable achievement reflects a 122% increase compared to the 199,000 tons handled in July 2023, underscoring the port’s growing importance as a major logistical hub in southern Africa. The surge in cargo volume was primarily driven by a significant increase in imports to meet regional and domestic
South Africa’s Transnet Requires $669 Million to Revive Coal Export Line
South Africa’s state-owned rail company, Transnet, needs $669 million and five years to upgrade its equipment to restore the performance of its main coal export line, according to an internal report. Coal shipments dropped to a three-decade low of 48 million tons last year due to inefficiencies at Transnet, which attributed its struggles to a shortage of locomotives and spare parts. Additionally, infrastructure faults and signaling system issues are major
Benguela Railway to Restore Regular Train Services by November 2024
The Benguela Railway (CFB) has announced plans to resume regular train services between October and November 2024, addressing current limitations on seating capacity caused by technical issues. In a statement issued to Jornal de Angola, CFB apologized for the disruptions affecting daily rail transport for users in the provinces of Huambo, Moxico, Bié, and Lundas Norte and Sul. The reduction in seating has significantly impacted communities along the railway line
South Africa’s Ports to Improve Within 14 Months, Transnet Pledges
South Africa’s ports, ranked among the world’s worst, are set for significant improvement within the next 12 to 14 months, according to Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni. She stated that State-owned operator Transnet is committed to fixing the ports, which have been plagued by years of poor governance and infrastructure collapse. Despite challenges, including an energy crisis and a collapsing rail system, the new multi-party government led by President