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Richards Bay News

02 Oct 2023

Thungela Says Coal Terminal Workers' Strike Not Impacting Exports

Illustration - Credit; Ossewa/Wikimedia Commons - CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED

Thungela Resources, South Africa's largest shipper of thermal coal burned in power stations, said its shipments of the fuel have not been impacted by a workers' strike at the country's key coal export hub. Workers at Richards Bay Coal Terminal, which is owned by coal exporters including Thungela, Exxaro Resources, Glencore, and Seriti, have been on a strike for the past three weeks. A two-week strike at South Africa's state-owned ports and rail company Transnet last year hit coal shipments…

12 Apr 2022

Transnet Suspends Durban Port Operations Due to Floods

© lcswart / Adobe Stock

South Africa's state-owned logistics firm Transnet suspended its Durban port operations from 1930 local time on Monday due to heavy rains that have damaged the roads into the port, a key hub for shipping containers and metals such as copper.In a statement on Tuesday, Transnet said shipping has been suspended until further notice as a result of damage caused by the adverse weather, and vessels on berth are on standby.Customers were requested to "hold back" on bringing their trucks into the port…

14 Jul 2021

Violence Disrupts Shipping at the Port of Durban

© donvictori0 / Adobe Stock

South Africa's Durban port has suffered major disruption after days of unrest, and operations have also been badly affected at the Richards Bay port and on a national freight rail line, logistics and freight companies said on Wednesday.The violence erupted last week in KwaZulu-Natal province, where Durban is located, after the jailing of former president Jacob Zuma but it has rapidly escalated in widespread looting and destruction in several other provinces.Durban has one of the busiest shipping terminals on the African continent…

01 Apr 2020

South African Ports Remain Open Despite Lockdown

© lcswart / Adobe Stock

South Africa's ports remain open to all types of cargo despite a nationwide 21-day lockdown though essential goods should be prioritized, the Department of Transport said in a notice."(The) government has now decided that in the interest of ensuring a functional supply chain across all ports, that all cargoes will be accepted for loading and off-loading," said the notice, which was dated March 31.That reversed instructions sent by port authorities to bulk terminals last week saying…

27 Mar 2020

Transnet to Cut Transport of Non-Essential Cargo During Lockdown

© OscarDiMalva /Adobe Stock

South Africa's logistics firm Transnet said it would reduce transport services and non-essential cargo operations during a nationwide lockdown that began at midnight on Thursday to contain the coronavirus.The state-owned company said shipments of metals and minerals would depend on demand and government approval. It was unclear if these exports would be affected.The transport of coal to state-run utility Eskom's power stations would continue, Transnet said.Transnet operates nearly three quarters of the African rail network…

17 Oct 2019

Port of Cape Town Boosts Tug Fleet

Photo: TNPA

Transnet National Ports Authority has redeployed a new tug to the Port of Cape Town, as Tug UMBILO went into service recently after being redeployed from the Port of Durban.Built in 2017, UMBILO was the sixth of nine new vessels to roll off the production line as part of $95 million tug construction contract being executed by Durban ship builder Southern African Shipyards. The Port of Cape Town also took delivery of tug USIBA last year, originally intended for the Port of Richards…

21 Aug 2019

African LNG to Attract $103Bln in 2019

With greenfield investments in Nigeria, Egypt, Mozambique and elsewhere reaching nearly $103 billion this year, it is clear that liquefaction is viewed as the most profitable strategy for realizing Africa’s gas potential, said Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF).Africa is an exciting frontier in the global natural gas sector. The continent holds 7.1 percent of proven global gas reserves and is expected to contribute nearly 10 percent of global production growth through to 2024.Nigeria accounts for over 50 percent of current LNG production capacity on the continent. With October 2019 seeing a final investment decision on the $12 billion…

24 May 2019

Cape Town to Employ Helo Pilotage Transfers

Photo: TNPA

Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has taken the decision to introduce a helicopter service at its Port of Cape Town to transfer marine pilots onto and off visiting vessels. This would make the port one of three within the South African port landlord’s complementary port system that offer the service, the others being Durban and Richards Bay.TNPA expects to commission the helicopter in Cape Town in 2021, according to GM: Infrastructure and Port Planning, Hamilton Nxumalo.In…

11 Apr 2019

CSA 2020 Welcomes Samsa Decision on EGCS

South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) has decided to allow the use of exhaust gas cleaning systems (EGCS) in its territorial waters and ports ahead of the IMO 2020 regulation.The Clean Shipping Alliance 2020 (CSA 2020) has welcomed the decision by SAMSA to accept all types of approved exhaust gas cleaning systems (EGCS) for use in its territorial waters.In an IMO 2020 advisory notice issued in March to shipowners, operators, master mariners and bunker suppliers, SAMSA says the use of open-loop, closed-loop or hybrid systems are accepted until further notice “as an equivalent arrangement under Regulation 4 of MARPOL Annex VI…

27 Jun 2018

TNPA Focuses on Ship Repair

Preston Khomo (Photo: TNPA)

Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) appointed Preston Khomo, previously Richards Bay Port Manager, as Executive Manager: Ship Repair, to manage and administer the organization’s ship repair resources nationally.Thamsanqa (Thami) Sithole has been appointed as the new Port Manager for Richards Bay. Both appointments are effective July 1.Khomo joined TNPA in 2004 as Head of Infrastructure Development: Port Operations and Consulting at Portcon (the then international arm of Transnet)…

10 Oct 2017

Update: Transnet Refloats Vessel Grounded at Port of Durban Entrance

© djevelekova / Adobe Stock

One of three vessels that has grounded in the Port of Durban today due to inclement weather has been successfully refloated and remoored alongside. Port teams remain on scene attending to the remaining vessels. TNPA has also managed to contain containers that had blown into the bay. At this stage vessel movements in the Port of Durban remain suspended until futher notice. No severe disruptions have been reported thus far at the Port of Richards Bay. TNPA earlier invoked a Business Continuity Plan (BCP) at its head office and the Port of Durban to ensure that it manages the situation closely.

23 Aug 2017

Two New Tugs for KZN Ports

A tug spray from the Port of Durban’s new UMBILO tug while the Port of Richards Bay’s Usiba tug is lowered into the water in the background. (Photo: TNPA)

Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) celebrated a twin milestone for its KwaZulu-Natal ports as part of its R1.4 billion ($106.3 million), nine-tug construction contract. On Thursday, 22 August the new USIBA tug was christened and named ahead of its delivery to the Port of Richards Bay, while the Port of Durban took delivery of its Umbilo tug which had been launched and named in May. The vessels are the sixth and seventh respectively to roll off the production line on time and within budget. All nine tugs are being built by Southern African Shipyards in Durban.

13 Feb 2017

TNPA: Five Tugs Done, Four More to Go

Photos courtesy of TNPA

Transnet National Ports Authority’s (TNPA) R1.4 billion tug building contract in Durban continues to create jobs and develop local marine capabilities, with the fifth of the authority’s nine new tugs launched this morning in Durban. The project is now 81% complete and still on track to deliver the ninth and final tug early in 2018, on time and within budget. Five tugs are under construction at any given time at the premises of contractor, Southern African Shipyards. Four are already delivered and at work in Port Elizabeth and Saldanha.

21 Sep 2016

$100M Tug Contract: Fourth Boat Delivered in South Africa

TNPA’s new tug, OSPREY, was launched and named at the Southern African Shipyards premises in Durban, South Africa.  (Photo: TNPA)

Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) is on track with its $100m tug building contract and celebrated the ceremonial launch of the fourth of its nine new tugs being built in Durban. The tug – named OSPREY in honor of the fish eagle – will serve at the Port of Saldanha. In line with maritime tradition, the duty of officially naming the vessel was carried out by Lady Sponsor, Thandeka Mabija, who earlier this month was appointed General Manager for Human Resources at TNPA. TNPA Chief Operating Officer…

07 Jul 2016

Second of Nine New TNPA Tugs Sets Sail

Photo: TNPA

The latest of Transnet National Ports Authority’s (TNPA) nine new tugboats has set sail from the Durban premises of contractor, Southern African Shipyards, on Thursday, July 7, destined for its new home at the Port of Port Elizabeth. The tug was ceremonially launched as Qunu in May alongside a third tug, Cormorant. Qunu was named after the Eastern Cape home village of former President, the late Nelson Mandela and is due to arrive in Port Elizabeth on Friday, July 8. She is the second of two new tugs built for the port as part of this large-scale fleet replacement project.

30 May 2016

Seized Hanjin Shipping Vessel Resumes Operation in South Africa

Hanjin Paradip resume  its sailing from South Africa as talks continue with owner over unpaid charter fees. The ship had been detained in Richards Bay, South Africa earlier last week over unpaid charter fees. The vessel in 82,158 deadweight tonnage (DWT) was used to carry grain and minerals. “We agreed with the ship owner that the normal vessel operation is the most important for interests of the both parties,” Hanjin said, without specifying the owner’s name. According to Yonhap, the incident took place while the shipping company has been negotiating with tonnage providers to get rates cut on chartered ships, a crucial first step outlined by bondholders of the financially-troubled company.

27 May 2016

Hanjin Vessel Seized in South Africa

Hanjin Shipping-operated bulker Hanjin Paradip has been arrested by a South Africa for alleged unpaid charter fees. The 82,158 dwt bulker, which has been used to transport grain and minerals, was detained in Richards Bay on May 24 due to the unpaid charter fees to an unspecified owner. The owner asked a South African court to impound the ship. The company's severe liquidity shortage has prevented it from paying the charter for months. South Korea's Chosun Ilbo quotes a spokesman saying that charter fees on the ship have gone unpaid because "we have yet to receive the money raised by selling ships and equity. Hanjin Shipping has entered restructuring.

04 Apr 2016

First of Nine New TNPA Tugs Sets Sail

MVEZO (Photo: TNPA)

The first of Transnet National Ports Authority’s nine new, powerful tugboats set sail from the Durban premises of contractor, Southern African Shipyards, on Saturday, April 2, destined for its new home at the Port of Port Elizabeth. The tug was ceremonially launched as MVEZO last October. It arrived in Port Elizabeth in the early hours of Monday, April 4. Port Elizabeth port manager, Rajesh Dana, said, “The arrival of MVEZO in the Eastern Cape is particularly significant given that the tug was named after the small village in our province where former President…

06 May 2016

Two New Tugs Built for TNPA

TNPA’s new tugs, Qunu and Cormorant, were launched and named at the Southern African Shipyards in Durban Linda Mabaso, Chair of Transnet SOC Limited, named the vessels, flanked by Trishna Misra, Chief Financial Officer of Southern African Shipyards. (Photo by Philip Wilson – Logico Creative Solutions)

The South African government’s Operation Phakisa: Oceans Economy initiative has yielded more results with the ceremonial launch of two more tugboats built for Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA). The two tugs – named Qunu and Cormorant – form part of TNPA’s R1.4 billion contract awarded to Durban ship builder, Southern African Shipyards. It is the largest single contract TNPA has ever given to a South African company for the building of harbor craft and will see a total of nine new tugs built for the South African port landlord over three and a half years.

15 Sep 2015

Collaboration Key in MV Smart Wreck Removal

(Photo: North P&I Club)

Titan Salvage, now a part of Ardent following completion of the merger of Titan and Svitzer Salvage, has completed the removal of the wreck of the cape-size MV Smart coal carrier in South Africa, an especially challenging project due to weather conditions that prevail on the South African coast, particularly during the winter period. The removal of the vessel, which was entered in North P&I Club by owner Alpha Marine, has been accomplished on time and on budget due collaboration with the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA), Titan and North.

26 Oct 2015

Marine Firefighting at Sea: Training to Survive

Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX), Emergency Services Training Institute

Fire onboard a boat or ship is generally considered the most dangerous situation on the water. While advances in technology have helped to mitigate risk, consistently investing to upgrade a crew’s firefighting training, skills and equipment is the best means to keep crew, ship and cargo safe if disaster strikes. While innovative new fire-resistant materials and advanced fire suppression equipment onboard ships and boats has helped to improve fire security, technology alone is not a one-stop security blanket in the quest to keep crew and ship free from harm in the case of a fire.

23 Nov 2015

South Africa Ports Gear Up for Cruise Season

South Africa’s ports are ramping up for a bumper cruise season with at least eight luxury cruise lines and over ten passenger vessels of varying sizes set to ferry international and domestic tourists across the country’s port cities. The South African cruise season kicked off officially in October with a number of smaller vessels already having called at South Africa’s ports. They are en route to and from travel hotspots in Africa, Europe, the Far East, the Mediterranean, South America and more. However the MSC SINFONIA – a cruise ship in the local cruise calendar – marked a highlight in the 2015/16 cruise calendar when she arrived in her homeport of Durban in the early hours of Thursday, November 19. This was her first South African call this season.

08 Dec 2015

S. Africa Preparing for "worst-case" Maize Import Scenario

South Africa is laying the groundwork in case it needs to import as much as 4 million tonnes of maize after successive seasons of drought threaten the crop in Africa's top producer of the grain, which is usually a net exporter. Siyabonga Gama, chief executive of Transet, South Africa's state-run ports and rail company, told Reuters in an interview on Tuesday the company's talks with the industry indicated that 4 million tonnes was the "worst-case scenario". "The rail side is not the issue. We have the capacity there to absorb that much maize," he said. He said South Africa's ports were designed mostly to export grain rather than import it, but this hurdle could be overcome. "The issue is the import silo capacity so there are a few things that we will need to tweak.