Pointe Noire News

Six crew members who were kidnapped by pirates from a Danish-owned ship in the Gulf of Guinea in late March have been rescued from an undisclosed location in Nigeria, the vessel's owner said on Monday.The Liberian-flagged oil and chemical tanker Monjasa Reformer with 16 crew members was hijacked on March 25 by five armed assailants some 140 miles west of the Republic of Congo's Port Pointe-Noire."All recovered crew members are in a relatively good health condition given the difficult circumstances they have been under in the last more than five weeks," Monjasa CEO Anders Ostergaard said in a statement.The crew members have all received medical checks and are now being repatriated to their home countries and families, he added.

The French navy on Friday escorted a tanker to port in the Gulf of Guinea after pirates abandoned the vessel and kidnapped some of the crew, the ship's owner told Reuters.The Liberian-flagged oil and chemical tanker Monjasa Reformer with 16 crew members was hijacked [Saturday, March 25] by five armed assailants 140 miles west of the Republic of Congo's Port Pointe-Noire.The hijackers abandoned the ship late [last] Thursday but took some crew members with them, Danish shipping company Monjasa, which owns the vessel, said on Friday."We have our vessel secured. We have our crew members secured on board, or part of the crew members. So right now we are being escorted by the French Navy," Chief Operating Officer Svend Stenberg Molholt said in an interview.

Pirates have abandoned a Danish-owned ship that was hijacked in the Gulf of Guinea last week, and have taken some crew members with them, while others have been brought to safety, the vessel's owner said on Friday.The Liberian-flagged oil and chemical tanker Monjasa Reformer with 16 crew members was boarded by five armed people 140 miles west of the Republic of Congo's Port Pointe-Noire, its owner said at the time.The Monjasa shipping company declined to say how many crew members were still missing.The Reformer subsequently went missing, but was later located by the French navy off Sao Tome and Principe, Monjasa said in a statement."Our thoughts are with the crew members still missing and their families during this stressful period.

A Danish-owned vessel that was boarded by pirates in the Gulf of Guinea on Saturday was spotted about 540 miles further off shore on Tuesday, according to a maritime cooperation centre monitoring security in the area.The Liberian-flagged oil and chemical tanker Monjasa Reformer was boarded by five armed people some 140 miles west of the Republic of Congo's Port Pointe-Noire. All 16 crew sought refuge in a safe room aboard, according to the cooperation centre.Danish marine fuels supplier Monjasa, owner of Monjasa Reformer, said on Tuesday all communications channels with the vessel were down. The company was unable to provide further detail on Wednesday for security reasons…

Pirates have attacked and boarded a Danish-owned ship in the Gulf of Guinea and all communications channels with the vessel are down, a spokesperson for shipping company Monjasa said on Tuesday.All 16 crew members sought refuge in a safe room onboard the Monjasa Reformer vessel, the spokesperson said.The Liberian-flagged oil and chemical tanker, which was sitting idle, was attacked on Saturday about 140 miles west of the Republic of Congo's Port Pointe-Noire.The vessel is operated by Dubai-based Montec Ship Management, which is owned by Monjasa.Montec reported the incident to a maritime cooperation centre operated by the British and French navies to maintain safety in the Gulf of Guinea.The operator is working with all relevant maritime authorities in the region…

Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi on Monday launched the construction of the country's first deep-water port, a $1.2 billion project that has drawn criticism for being built on the edge of a protected wetlands.Banana Port, to be built by Dubai's port giant DP World, will border Congo's Mangrove Marine Park, a nature reserve that contains a variety of vulnerable or endangered plant and animal species.The port at Banana, a sandy spit of land at the mouth of Congo River, will process 322,000 containers per year, Congolese Minister of Industry Julien Paluku said on Twitter, p

Is neo-colonialism in the Gulf of Guinea the answer to West Africa’s maritime crime crisis?In October 2020, China’s transport ministry established an ad hoc workgroup to lay down precautionary measures for ships and seafarers passing through high piracy risk West African waters.The move came as China told its vessels to up vigilance and implement a series of precautionary measures to ensure the security of ocea-going vessels and seafarers amid rising attacks and a surge in kidnaps in the Gulf of Guinea.Plans outlined by Wu Chungeng…

Saipem has been awarded contracts for the second phase of the ExxonMobil led Liza development offshore Guyana.These contracts, assigned by Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), an affiliate of ExxonMobil, as the project operator, are in addition to those awarded to Saipem in 2017 for Liza Phase 1.Following engineering and subject to requisite government approvals, project sanction from the joint venture and an authorization to proceed with the next phase, Saipem will then perform detailed engineering, procurement, construction, and installation of the risers, flowlines, and associated structures and jumpers. Saipem will also transport and install umbilicals…

The CMA CGM Group, a leader in maritime transport, announced the start of its commercial operations at the Kribi Container Terminal. On this occasion, the CMA CGM BIANCA, 8721 TEUs and 335 meters long, became the largest container ship to call in Cameroon on 2 March 2018. The CMA CGM Group is deploying four new weekly direct services in Kribi to northern Europe, the Mediterranean and Asia. West Feeder Service, connecting Kribi, Port Gentil, Boma, Matadi and Libreville. Thanks to its strategic positioning, the Kribi hub will also significantly reduce transit times. Located in Cameroon, a growing market, the Kribi terminal aims to act…

CMA CGM announced the port coverage improvement of its SAMWAF service connecting Brazil and Plata area to West Africa and South Africa strategic markets, in the effort to continue enhancing its product.   As from February 16th, 2018 with m/v GERHARD SCHULTE, the lead product SAMWAF service operated with 6 vessels up to 3,800 TEU.   SAMWAF will call the port of Itajai, Brazil on a weekly basis, in replacement of Navegantes. Argentina and Uruguay ports will be served on relay via Itajai   New rotation: Itajai - Paranagua - Santos - Rio de Janeiro - Cape Town - Durban - Port Elizabeth - Luanda - Pointe Noire - Itajai

The CMA CGM Group announced it is reinforcing its service from Europe to West Africa through a new call at Kribi (Cameroon) and shortened transit times from North Europe on its EURAF 5 service. The new service started in January 2018. As a result, its EURAF 5 (Europe-West Africa) will benefit from a new port coverage on the following route:  Antwerp, Le Havre, Lisbon, Algeciras, Pointe Noire, Luanda, Kribi, Douala, Abidjan, Algeciras, Antwerp. Transit times will also be shortened up to 10 days from Northern Europe to Douala with a weekly direct service. Moreover, the ports of Lobito and Namibe in Angola will be served in relay via Pointe Noire. The service will benefit from a direct weekly call at Kribi.

CMA CGM has announced the strengthening of its position on Europe > West Africa route by becoming vessel operator on its current service EURAF 5. Effective April 5th, 2017, CMA CGM operates 2 vessels on EURAF 5 between North Europe and West Africa South Range. With a weekly frequency, EURAF 5 connects Europe to Angola, the Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Cameroon is served on a fortnightly basis. Reefer cargo from Abidjan relies on a direct service to Europe with very fast transit times. Antwerp is reached in 15 days, Le Havre in 18 days, Lisbon in 21 days.

In line with the West Africa market trend, CMA CGM Group adapts its service offering while continuing to improve its service reliability and cost efficiency. Withdrawal of WAX 2 service. WAX | Operated by CMA CGM with 12 vessels of 4,350 TEU, will discontinue South Africa and Nigeria calls. Instead, the service will add Abidjan Westbound to its current export call with an improved transit time up to 5 days. Abidjan from Shanghai will be reached in 37 days. ASAF | The sole product available on the market to West Africa South Range is operated with 12 vessels up to 9,350 TEU.

CMA CGM announced and amendment to the port rotation of its MIDAS service. Luanda served via Durban with Samwaf service: Luanda is reached from Mundra in 26 days, Nhava Sheva in 28 days, Jebel Ali in 31 days. Lome via Singapore with Afex service: Lome is reached from Mundra in 37 days, Nhava Sheva in 39 days and Jebel Ali in 37 days. Walvis Bay, Namibia will be served via Singapore on Wax service with the best transit time in the market. 29 days from Mundra, 31 days from Nhava Sheva and 35 days from Jebel Ali. Reefer cargo export transit time from South Africa to Jebel Ali will be shortened by 1 day with a competitive transit time of 19 days from Cape Town and 16 days from Durban.

In a continued effort to provide increased reliability and quality service in a challenging environment, CMA CGM Group is strengthening its coverage of Europe to West Africa with the addition of the direct call in Cameroon on its EURAF 5 service and the EURAF 4 service upgrade connecting Europe to West Africa strategic markets. Direct service from North Europe to Douala with a fortnightly frequency combined with a shortened transit time by 7 days. Therefore, it is one of the best transit time on the market with Douala from Antwerp in 28 days and from Le Havre in 29 days. Our exporters in Douala will benefit from a very fast and direct transit time to North Europe: Northern France will be reached in 16 days, Antwerp in 17 days.

The Hague, Netherlands - With just 50 days until SOLAS Verified Gross Mass (VGM) comes into force APM Terminals is taking the lead to ensure a smooth transition into the new regulatory environment facing over 120 million containers entering the international supply chain. Under international law from 1st July, 2016 shippers are required to provide a VGM for every container before it can be loaded with the shipping line. In 2014, the International Maritime organization (IMO), the agency of the United Nations responsible for regulating international seaborne trade, approved amendments to the Safety of Life at Sea Convention (SOLAS) which as of 1st July 2016 will require verification and documentation of loaded containers (Verified Gross Mass, or “VGM”) before they can be loaded onto vessels.

The United Nations Security Council on Monday expressed its deep concern over piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea, and stressed the importance of a comprehensive approach — led by States of the region, with international support — to address the problem and its root causes. Issuing presidential statement S/PRST/2016/4, the Council strongly condemned acts of murder, kidnapping, hostage-taking and robbery by pirates in the Gulf, and underlined the importance of determining any links between piracy and armed robbery at sea, and terrorist groups in West Africa and the Sahel subregions. It encouraged regional organizations — including the African Union…

Container shipper CMA CGM has changed the rotation of its WAX service operated with 13 vessels up to 4,350 TEU on the Asia-West and South Africa trade. As from April 11, 2016 when m/v BERMUDA begins her rotation in Pusan, the Pusan port call will be transferred from WAX 3 onto WAX service. According to CMA CGM, the move will allow it to be the unique carrier on the market offering a broad range of direct services from Korea to Benin, Cameroon and Namibia in addition to the current service to Nigeria and South Africa.

CMA CGM announced that a new call at Pointe des Galets (La Reunion) will be introduced on its ASAF service, connecting Asia to West Africa, and operated with 13 vessels of 9,400 TEU. The maiden voyage direct to La Reunion will be operated with m/v CMA CGM TANYA in Xingang on March 22nd, 2016. La Reunion will be reached in 20 days from Shanghai, 16 days from Nansha and 9 days from Southeast Asia. Thru the strategic hub of La Reunion on ASAF service, CMA CGM will offer a fortnightly fixed-day service to Mayotte. Longoni will be reached from Shanghai in 30 days. Stability and service continuity will benefit customers in Comoros and North Madagascar and will permit to further develop the Reefer product.

Maersk Line has announced its improved Mesawa service with direct calls into Pointe Noire in Africa. With this service, Maersk Line intends to reduce the transit time on the trade route. This service offers a reliable & efficient link between India and Africa. Mr. Franck Dedenis, Managing Director for Maersk (India and Sri Lanka), said, “This enhanced Mesawa service reiterates Maersk Line’s commitment to bringing tremendous value to our customers.

Starting in March, NileDutch, the container carrier specialized in connections to and from West Africa, will upgrade its services from Europe to West Africa by operating two loops. Antwerp - Le Havre - Leixoes by rail to Lisbon - Lisbon - Algeciras - Tanger - Pointe Noire - Luanda - Lobito - Namibe - Abidjan - Tanger - Antwerp. A new service to Dakar and Abidjan will provide extra loading ports. Dunkerque - Tilbury - Antwerp - Dunkerque - Le Havre - Montoir - Tanger - Algeciras - Dakar - Abidjan - Dakar - Algeciras - Dunkerque.

CMA CGM has announced the strengthening of its current MIDAS service by cooperating with PIL under a new Vessel Sharing Agreement. A fleet of 11 vessels of 3,500 TEU nominal capacity will be deployed, and CMA CGM will contribute to the majority with 9 vessels. It also announced the strengthening of its coverage of India on its SWAHILI EXPRESS service deployed on the India Middle East Gulf - Eastern Africa and Indian Ocean route. In India, MIDAS will extend its coverage with a weekly call at Nhava Sheva direct to West Africa, South Africa and Reunion Island in addition to the present Mundra call. Luanda is reached from India in 22 days, Pointe Noire in 25 days, Apapa in 30 days and Cotonou in 31 days.

NileDutch, the container carrier specializing in West Africa, is setto introduce a new service to link the East Coast of the U.S. with West Africa and Europe. The rotation will start in New York and the service will run every nine days. The first vessel, the MV Cafer Dede will sail on February 16, 2016. According to the shipper, the new development aims to meet the growing demand from exporters in the East Coast of the U.S. for better access to their markets in West Africa. The new service will be operated by NileDutch in cooperation with Turkon Line.