PORTS, TRANSPORT AND LOGISTICS SECTOR NEWS ROUND-UP, 14/2020 (3 – 14 AUGUST 2020)
In light of the rapid pace of infrastructure and transport developments across Africa, our Ports, Transport and Logistics (PTL) Sector Group is pleased to present Bowmans’ latest PTL news round-up. Our regular round-ups bring you a selection of pan-African PTL-related stories and keep you up to date regarding developments in the space across Africa.
We draw on a network of multi-disciplinary experts across Africa in fields as diverse as project finance, construction and environmental law, to keep you in the know about developments and thought leadership in the PTL space.
The articles to which we refer readers are, unless stated otherwise, neither written nor edited by ourselves and appear in their original form. Bowmans does not necessarily agree with opinions expressed in those articles.
This edition includes news headlines and links to articles from a variety of sources, covering stories from Botswana, Cameroon, Djibouti, Ghana, Guinea, Mozambique. Namibia, Puntland, Somalia, Somaliland, South Africa and Zambia.
For country-specific advice, please contact Aleem Tharani in Kenya, Wilbert Kapinga in Tanzania, David Mpanga in Uganda and Mabvuto Sakala in Zambia.
For Coronavirus (Covid-19) related updates from South Africa…
Please see Bowmans’ dedicated ports and shipping web page for details of Covid-19 related regulatory changes, directions and updates in South Africa since 16 March. We also have a page dedicated to aviation regulatory changes, directions and updates.
Africa Ports provides statistics and commentary on the effect of Covid-19 on cargo volumes and ships calling at South African ports for the months of March, April, May and June 2020 respectively, including a comparison with the figures for the same months in 2019.
For non-Covid19 legislation updates from South Africa…
The National Ports Authority has submitted its tariff application to the Ports Regulator of South Africa for the 2021/22 – 2023/24 financial year. Port users and interested parties have been invited to submit written comments by 30 September 2020. Details of virtual public hearings on 31 August and 1 September 2020, are available from the Ports Regulator’s website here.
Other news continues below...
New coal port on track – and Covid-19 won’t stop it (Mozambique)
Source: Southern Africa’s Freight News by FTW (14 August 2020)
Despite concerns about the possible impact of Covid-19, construction of a new coal port at Macuse in Mozambique remains on track to start in 2021. Read the full article here.
Review of nine African 'blue economy' projects shows what works and what doesn't
Source: Africa Ports (14 August 2020)
Africa has 38 coastal countries and six islands whose maritime industry is estimated to be worth US$1 trillion per year. This figure will increase as they develop their offshore hydrocarbon, energy, tourism, maritime transport, shipping and fishing sectors. Read the full article here.
Oil & gas drilling rig Deepsea Stavanger welcomed back in South Africa (South Africa)
Source: Africa Ports (14 August 2020)
The oil & gas drilling rig DEEPSEA STAVANGER, that was successful in striking sizeable gas and light oil deposits in Total’s Brulpadda prospect off the Cape southern coast early last year, has returned to South Africa to take up a second session of drilling of the Luiperd prospect in Block 11B/12B in the same area off the Mossel Bay coast, Western Cape. Read the full article here.
Islamist insurgents seize port of Mocimboa da Praia, many casualties (Mozambique)
Source: Africa Ports (14 August 2020)
Islamist insurgents have again attacked and captured the heavily-defended harbour town of Mocimboa da Praia in northern Mozambique, according to various reports other than official statements. Read the full article here. Also reported in Southern Africa’s Freight News by FTW here.
Developing story: Botswana announces single drop-off decision (Botswana)
Source: Southern Africa’s Freight News by FTW (13 August 2020)
More detail is still coming in following a reported decision by the government of Botswana to reserve 100% of domestic courier freight for local operators. Read the full article here.
Zambia to reserve 50% of cargo transport for its own (Zambia)
Source: Southern Africa’s Freight News by FTW (13 August 2020)
The government of Zambia has announced that it will imminently formalise the implementation of a Statutory Instrument (SI) that will reserve 50% of all imports and exports for local transport companies – a move that is already receiving wide criticism from cross-border freight concerns operating in the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Read the full article here.
Saldanha’s iron ore terminal volumes on track despite lockdown restrictions (South Africa)
Source: Southern Africa’s Freight News by FTW (13 August 2020)
Transnet Port Terminals’ (TPT) Saldanha Iron Ore Terminal (IOT) has loaded 15.6 million tons in the first four months of the 2020/21 financial year, meeting 76% of its contract obligations, despite Covid-19 restrictions. Read the full article here.
Transnet prioritises SADC in post-Covid growth strategy (South Africa)
Source: Southern Africa’s Freight News by FTW (12 August 2020)
A renewed and reinvigorated focus on regional strength will dominate Transnet’s post-coronavirus growth strategy, CEO for the state-owned company (SOC), Portia Derby, has said. Read the full article here. Also reported in Creamer Media’s Engineering News here.
Douala port management contract extended by three years (Cameroon)
Source: Africa Ports (12 August 2020)
The management contract for the port of Douala Container Terminal has been extended by a further three years, it has been announced. Read the full article here.
Transnet to build 300 rail wagons for Mozambique's CFM (South Africa and Mozambique)
Source: Africa Ports (12 August 2020)
Transnet Engineering has signed a rolling stock supply agreement to build and deliver 300 freight wagons to Mozambican rail operator (CFM). Read the full article here. Also reported in Southern Africa’s Freight News by FTW here.
Bulking up – African countries in talks to upgrade rail networks
Source: Southern Africa’s Freight News by FTW (11 August 2020)
African countries are increasingly recognising the importance of profitable rail solutions to move bulk commodities. Read the full article here.
Operations at Port of Cape Town back to normal (South Africa)
Source: Southern Africa’s Freight News by FTW (11 August 2020)
The manager for the Port of Cape Town, Mpumi Dweba-Kwetana, has informed the freight industry that operations at the port have returned to normal following an extended period of backlogs created by personnel disruption caused by Covid-19. Read the full article here.
WHARF TALK: Focus on truckers and road congestion at Port of Durban (South Africa)
Source: Africa Ports (11 August 2020)
Moshe Motlohi, GM at the Port of Durban and chairman of the multi-disciplinary Port Decongestion Team, said last week that the transport industry had a critical role to play in supporting efforts to alleviate congestion at the Port of Durban and its surrounding road networks, which negatively impacts communities in and around the port’s Bayhead Precinct. Read the full article here. Also reported in Southern Africa’s Freight News by FTW here and in Creamer Media’s Engineering News here.
WHARF TALK: Durban port news (South Africa)
Source: Africa Ports (11 August 2020)
As KwaZulu-Natal shifts to become the new epicentre of South Africa’s COVID-19 outbreak, the Ports of Durban and Richards Bay are ramping up employee communication to ensure that port workers adhere to preventative measures both on and off duty. Read the full article here.
Air cargo continues ‘gradual recovery’ at minus 20% (South Africa)
Source: Southern Africa’s Freight News by FTW (6 August 2020)
Global air cargo volumes continued to show a ‘gradual but consistent’ month-on-month recovery in July, increasing by 8% over June, according to the latest air cargo market analysis by CLIVE Data Services. Read the full article here.
MSC Beryl becomes deepest vessel to enter Ghanaian ports (Ghana)
Source: Africa Ports (6 August 2020)
The recently opened MPS Terminal 3 at the port of Tema has already set a few records – now the terminal has handled the deepest draught vessel so far to arrive at the container terminal. Read the full article here.
Massive hikes in port charges on the cards (South Africa)
Source: Southern Africa’s Freight News by FTW (6 August 2020)
Industry is bracing itself for massive additional charges after Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) asked for a whopping 19.74% tariff hike for the 2021/22 financial year. Read the full article here.
Namport celebrates first anniversary of new container terminal (Namibia)
Source: Africa Ports (5 August 2020)
The new container terminal at the Port of Walvis Bay is fast approaching one year old, and will achieve that distinction later this month on 24 August. Read the full article here. Also reported in Southern Africa’s Freight News by FTW here.
SA coal shipment sees Djibouti's Tadjoura port return to service (Djibouti)
Source: Africa Ports (4 August 2020)
The Port of Tadjoura in Djibouti has returned to service with a shipment of 50,000-tonnes of South African coal intended for Ethiopia. This took place earlier in July (17 July 2020) when the ship, the Norwegian-flagged 58,000-dwt SPAR CAPELLA (IMO 9490844) arrived from Richards Bay and docked at the reopened port to begin discharging her cargo. Read the full article here.
Customs challenges in Guinea and Sub-Saharan Africa: WCO and Expertise France in technical workshop (Guinea)
Source: Africa Ports (4 August 2020)
From 22 to 23 July 2020, experts from the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Secretariat and the WCO Regional Office for Capacity Building for West and Central Africa (ROCB-WCA) ran a major virtual workshop on Customs challenges in Guinea and Sub-Saharan Africa. This was reported by WCO Media staff on 30 July. Read the full article here.
Coastal service introduced linking Djibouti, Somalia, Somaliland & Puntland
Source: Africa Ports (4 August 2020)
The Djibouti Shipping Company, formed under the auspices of the Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority (DPFZA), has commenced operations with a regular service across the Gulf of Aden and coast of Somalia. Read the full article here.
WHARF TALK: Report on Port of Durban status (South Africa)
Source: Africa Ports (4 August 2020)
Further impacts on port operations resulting largely from the COVID-19 crisis becomes clear when container performance at the Port of Durban is revealed as being well below budget and previous year performances. Read the full article here.
WHARF TALK: New Durban Container Terminal straddle carriers arrive fully assembled (South Africa)
Source: Africa Ports (3 August 2020)
The Durban Container Terminal (DCT) Pier 2 has taken delivery of another 13 of 23 electric straddle carriers which arrived yesterday (Sunday 2 August). According to Transnet Port Terminals (TPT), this introduces a major impact in the availability and reliability of equipment across waterside, landside and rail operations. Read the full article here. Also reported in Southern Africa’s Freight News by FTW here and in Creamer Media’s Engineering News here.
WHARF TALK: Port Elizabeth & Ngqura aiming at record citrus exports (South Africa)
Source: Africa Ports (3 August 2020)
With South Africa enjoying a bumper citrus season and Cape Town port having been severely affected by a deluge of problems from the COVID-19 pandemic to a particularly stormy winter season, and resulting in citrus exports being trucked across the southern Cape to Port Elizabeth for export, the two Eastern Cape ports are confident of not only enjoying strong exports themselves, but also of clearing the export logjam that arose from the situation in Cape Town. Read the full article here.
WHARF TALK: Cape Town port ramps up marine operations (South Africa)
Source: Africa Ports (3 August 2020)
The Port of Cape Town is reporting it has all of its marine crew back on duty and is continuing to ramp up operations and reduce shipping backlogs caused by the impact of COVID-19 on the port’s human resources. Read the full article here. Also reported in Southern Africa’s Freight News by FTW here.
WHARF TALK: Transnet Group Chief Executive meets Saldanha Bay community leaders (South Africa)
Source: Africa Ports (3 August 2020)
Earlier last week (Monday 27 July) the Transnet Group Chief Executive Portia Derby met with the leaders of various community organisations in Saldanha Bay, in order to address challenges in the port town that have led to protests in the area. Read the full article here.
WHARF TALK: SA ports collaborate amid COVID-19 (South Africa)
Source: Africa Ports (3 August 2020)
South Africa’s eight commercial ports have shown the way in collaborating to minimise the effect of COVID-19 on its marine operations. Read the full article here.