Zimbabwe News

French oil and gas major Total said Thursday it had delivered its first shipment of carbon-neutral liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the Chinese National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC).Total explained that the carbon footprint of the LNG shipment was offset with VCS (Verified Carbon Standards) emissions certificates financing two projects.The two projects are Hebei Guyuan Wind Power Project, which aims to reduce emissions from coal-based power generation in northern China, and Kariba REDD+ Forest Protection Project…

Dubai based logistics giant DP World has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop a free economic zone for industry and logistics in Namibia.The port operator said the agreement with Namibia’s Nara Namib Free Economic Industrial Zone will support the growth of Namibia as a regional hub for southern Africa.The development will help Namibia grow as a center for industrial operations and logistics, creating opportunities and jobs across multiple sectors including agriculture, fishing, automotive and mining.The facility at Walvis Bay will provide businesses with development-ready land for industrial and logistics operations…

The European Union (EU) has provided EUR40 million (USD 45 million) to boost sustainable fisheries and aquaculture in African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP).An initiative by ACP-EU-Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is to invest in value chains that stimulate inclusive growth, bolster food security and minimize impacts on the marine environment."ACP-EU-FAO initiative signed a €40 million, five-year program (FISH4ACP) to boost the development of sustainable fisheries and aquaculture in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific," said a press release from the UN body.FISH4ACP is an innovative EU-funded program, devised with ACP and to be implemented by FAO.

TransNamib Holdings Ltd, and Botswana Railways (BR) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Gaborone, Botswana, which will culminate in the development and operation of a container terminal in Gobabis.The MoU, signed by TransNamib CEO, Johny Smith, and his Motswana counterpart, Leonard Musa Makwinja, signals the beginning of a fruitful and beneficial relationship to develop and enhance trade between the two countries. The MoU was .“The future of railways offers many opportunities”, said. The cooperation is also expected to facilitate in opening import and export opportunities, and to unlock value on the TransKalahari route–even though the two countries are not completely linked by rail yet.Furthermore…

China's Foreign Ministry on Thursday brushed off doubts about how many countries have offered support for its position in a case brought by the Philippines over Chinese claims in the South China Sea, saying the number of nations was growing daily. China has stepped up its rhetoric ahead of an expected ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague on the Philippine case. China refuses to recognise the case and says all disputes should be resolved through bilateral talks. China says more than 40 countries have offered support for its position, the most recent being Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka. But only eight countries have come out in public support, including land-locked nations such as Niger and Afghanistan, says Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Holland America Line has appointed Denella Ri’chard to the position of director, trade communication and engagement. In this newly created role she is responsible for supporting travel agent partners worldwide, with particular focus on the United States and Canada. She oversees trade communications, the PartnerShips website, HAL Academy and all other internal and external training programs. Ri’chard, who is based in Seattle, Washington, at the Holland America Line headquarters, will report to Joe Slattery, senior vice president, global marketing and sales. “Denella’s impressive sales and marketing credentials, combined with her outstanding presentation skills, will be a tremendous asset to the Holland America Line organization,” said Slattery.

Bureau Veritas has been awarded by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of the Republic of Zimbabwe with the Consignment Based Conformity Assessment (CBCA) contract. The CBCA certificate shall be presented for Customs clearance on arrival in Zimbabwe. The starting up of the program will be on May 16th, 2015, in compliance with the World Trade Organization process and relevant decrees.

CMA CGM to improve its ASEA service between Asia and East Africa with the launching of ASEA Kenya and ASEA Tanzania. The CMA CGM Group’s Asia-East Africa (ASEA) service upgrade is scheduled to begin December 2014 with the launch of two new services. ASEA Kenya and ASEA Tanzania, will now accompany East African markets’ growth and replace the ASEA one single service, reducing transit times from Asia and improving reliability, the company said. CMA CGM intermodal and logistics solutions will connect African land-locked countries to Asia.

ExxonMobil's $19 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Papua New Guinea, which is shipping its first cargo, is set to dramatically transform one of Asia-Pacific's most unstable countries, for better or for worse. The LNG venture, which is expected to produce more than 9 trillion cubic feet of gas over 30 years, is the largest private investment in the South Pacific nation's history. ExxonMobil is relying on projects like this one for much-needed production growth, while the Papua New Guinea government hopes it might double its $15 billion dollar economy, now slightly larger than Botswana's. But sharing the spoils of resource projects has previously torn apart a country that is seen as one of the most corrupt in the world…

CMA CGM announced the launch of its new KHULU Line dedicated to the U.S. With the addition of its newest line, CMA CGM now offers its customers eight services with a weekly call in South Africa. The line’s first sailing will be MV GREY FOX voy. 7S001R, ETD Houston on May 7, 2014. KHULU’s rotation is: Houston, Walvis Bay, Cape Town, Durban, Maputo, Richards Bay, Houston. CMA CGM said the line will bring onward transportation to the heart of Southern Africa countries (Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland) through Durban gateway.

Economic sanctions, imposed by national and international governments for a variety of political reasons, can be snare traps for unsuspecting maritime enterprises. For the maritime industry, port calls in any nation against which sanctions have been imposed should be undertaken with caution. As this article illustrates, there are additional ways to run afoul of economic sanctions, but trading in a prohibited manner with a sanctioned nation is the most common. From the maritime perspective, economic sanctions come in three flavors.

The Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Efthimios E. Mitropoulos, has expressed his profound sadness for the loss of life in the sinking of the ro-ro ferry Spice Islander I off the coast of the United Republic of Tanzania on 10 September. “We are shocked at the number of lives lost and have offered any help and technical assistance which may be required,” Mr. Mitropoulos said, adding that IMO was willing to provide assistance in investigating the cause of the accident and…

By Barbara D. Recent changes to U.S. economic sanctions programs have resulted in both new opportunities and new restrictions for offshore service vessel operators. In April, the United States substantially reduced restrictions on trade with Libya. However, these actions were followed in early May by the imposition of a new embargo against Syria. In addition, over the past several months, many additional individuals and entities have been designated as subject to trade sanctions, and the Secretary of Homeland Security has been granted authority to take various measures to prevent the unauthorized entry of vessels into Cuban territorial waters.