Diego Suarez News

Starting December 16th, 2016, CMA CGM has chosen to revamp its feeder network to Indian Ocean to reinforce its quality, reliability and frequency. The offering of two separate products dedicated to Comoros/Mozambique market and North Madagascar will strengthen our competitiveness. "We are pleased to inform you that the new Indian Ocean Feeder Loop 3 service, deploying 1 vessel of 618 TEU, will be exclusively dedicated to Comoros and Nacala, Mozambique, via Longoni hub (Mayotte)," says a statement from the company. Main features will be the following: Improved frequency to Moroni and Mutsamudu, offering fortnightly calls with a gain of 7 days transit time. Moroni will be reached in 33 days from Fos, 36 days from Le Havre and 39 days from Antwerp.

The EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Flagship, ITS Andrea Doria, paid a port visit to Madagascar from December 15-19, berthing for the first time in the bay of Antsiranana. On Monday, December 15, Rear Admiral Guido Rando and the Commanding Officer of ITS Andrea Doria, Captain Angelo Virdis were welcomed by the Chief of the Madagascan Armed Forces and other senior officials, who expressed their gratitude and appreciation for the success of the EU Naval Force’s counter-piracy mission, Operation Atalanta, and its continuous effort to defeat piracy off the East Coast of Africa.

Since the creation of CMA CGM Madagascar in 2003, container shipping company CMA CGM Group has continued to develop on the island to move closer to its valued customers and partners and meet economic growth forecasts in the Malagasy industrial market, the company said. The CMA CGM Group announced today it will open two news agencies in Toliara (Tuléar) and Antsiranana (Diego Suarez), bringing its presence in Madagascar to eight offices, of which five owned by the group. To strengthen its offer in the Indian Ocean…

Global business risk consultancy Drum Cussac Ltd. delivered an antipiracy training program for the Malagasy Navy at the Naval Base in Diego Suarez, Madagascar. It is the first time that a private company has been permitted to partner with the Malagasy Navy. A team of Drum Cussac’s skilled and experienced risk management consultants worked closely with thirty Malagasy Naval personnel to enhance the Navy’s anti-piracy capability when operating in an offshore environment. Although reported cases of offshore security incidents in East Africa have fallen recently, the rapid development of Madagascar’s offshore oil and gas industry has led to a growing need for more robust security in the region.

According to Reuters on 28, February 2012, the Costa Cruises Costa Allegra was adrift in the Indian Ocean after an engine room fire had been extinguished. None of the 636 passengers and 413 crew was reported hurt. LATER: Costa Cruises released the following statement:  The company was notified that a fire had broken out aboard the Costa Allegra in the electric generators room. The shipboard fire-extinguishing system and procedures were promptly activated and the special fire-fighting squads intervened to extinguish fire. The fire did not spread to any other area of the ship.

Prior to the outbreak of WWII the Japanese began construction of several different types of midget submarines. Recognizing the strategic importance of such a weapon for combat use, Japan built hundreds of these "mini subs" ranging in size from just under 80 ft. to over 100 ft. Designed to carry a crew of 2 to 3 sailors and armed with two torpedoes, these small subs were originally intended to be transported on ships and deployed in the path of an enemy fleet. However, very quickly the Japanese saw the advantages of using the mini subs for special operations inside enemy harbors where conventional submarines could not go. To enhance their stealth capability, the midget subs were modified to ride atop full size subs and be deployed at sea near the target location.