Eastern Africa News

A ship carrying wheat from Ukraine to the drought-stricken Horn of Africa docked on Tuesday, the United Nations said, the first to make the journey since the Russian invasion six months ago.The vessel Brave Commander is carrying 23,000 tonnes of grain and will soon be followed by another carrying 7,000 tonnes.The total shipment, which will be unloaded in Djibouti and transported to Ethiopia, is enough to feed 1.5 million people for a month.That barely begins to alleviate the problems of Eastern Africa, where the United Nations' World Food Programme says extreme weather, surging food prices and conflict mean 82 million people need food aid across nine countries - Burundi…

Shipping giant Maersk is enhancing the service it offers from Mombasa, Kenya, to North Europe, specifically Felixstowe and Rotterdam, by providing a single transshipment product via Salalah, Oman.Maersk said that the ME7 service would connect Kenya’s exports via Salalah to Europe ensuring the cargo will flow smoothly without getting affected by unforeseen delays in case of congestion. The ME7 service will provide regular rotations between the hubs of Colombo and Salalah, letting…

Satcom Global announces VSAT coverage upgrade benefitting customers operating in European and Indian Ocean waters.Satcom Global announced another extension to its Aura VSAT maritime communications network, with the addition of two new satellite beams; Astra 4a Nordic and SES-12 IOR.The Astra 4a Nordic Ku-band beam was introduced to the Satcom Global Aura network in December 2020 to support customers operating in European waters. With carriers optimized for the performance of smaller Ku-band terminals…

Abu Dhabi Ports and the Mauritius Ports Authority (MPA) have signed an agreement to pool their combined expertise to enhance the maritime sector across the Indian Ocean, from port infrastructure and security to protecting the environment and driving the cruise industry.Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), Abu Dhabi Ports and MPA will explore areas of collaboration between the public and private sectors, as well as how to ensure the safety and security of passengers, crew members, vessels and port facilities.The MoU will see the two ports research the most effective use of tugboats, as well as training initiatives for deck and…

Dubai-based global port operator DP World and the Rwandan government have opened East Africa’s first Inland Dry Port, 20 kilometers from the capital city Kigali and close to the international airport.DP World Kigali logistics hub is a secure, bonded facility spread over 13 hectares and features an Inland Container Terminal (ICT) with modern warehousing capacity, a container yard, administrative and services buildings, parking areas and other facilities.According to a release from the world's port terminal operator, DP World Kigali accesses two secure trade gateways for eastern Africa, the port of Mombasa in Kenya and Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.

A training event on oil spill preparedness and response for countries in eastern Africa, was held in Dar Es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania (6-9 November).The  relevant government agency representatives with responsibilities in spill response in the countries like Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, Somalia, United Republic of Tanzania, and Uganda have participated in the training."In the event of a marine oil spill, relevant government agencies in the affected region need to manage and coordinate a response," a release from International Maritime Organization (IMO) explained the scenario.The…

As part of its continuing efforts to help African countries improve their maritime security capabilities, International Maritime Organization (IMO)  frequently works with other partners to help support their initiatives. The United States, for example, leads two major annual maritime security exercises in Africa and one of these, Cutlass Express, is underway now (Feb 2018). Cutlass Express puts special emphasis on encouraging different agencies and different countries to work together, as envisaged in existing frameworks such as the Djibouti Code of Conduct (DCoC) – a regional agreement against maritime crime in eastern Africa, the West Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden, which IMO helped to establish.

To better respond to our customers’ needs in the dynamic East Africa market, CMA CGM will upgrade and broaden its service offering connecting India and Middle East Gulf to East Africa. Swahili Express service remains unchanged. A wide range of intermodal solutions to Eastern Africa domestic and cross border destinations service offering is proposed by CMA CGM Group in addition to the maritime services.

Gulf Navigation Holding (GNH) announces the initiation of studies for large expansion of its operations in the northern region of the United Arab Emirates consisting of a set of comprehensive maritime activities, (the GNH Northern Project), including ship building, ship repair and offshore platforms, equipment and services, logistics, marine specialized operations and global mobile ship repair and services including a float and during voyage. The eastern coast of the United Arab Emirates is considered one of the most important trade route in the world and berthing areas and it is the world’s second leader in the supply and ship refueling/ bunkering, per studies at least over 200 work boats are employed for offshore support and supply in the eastern coast.

An International Maritime Organization (IMO)-led workshop in Maputo, Mozambique is supporting countries in south-eastern Africa in implementing the STCW (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping ) Convention, which establishes international standards for training, certification and watchkeeping for seafarers. The workshop (25-29 July) is familiarizing maritime administrations and maritime training institutes with all recent amendments to the STCW Convention and Code, including the 2010 Manila Amendments, and supports maritime training institutions in the region to improve teaching and assessment of seafarers in accordance with the Convention.

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.

Maritime forces from Eastern Africa, Western Indian Ocean island nations, Europe and the United States, as well as several international organizations began the fifth iteration of the multinational maritime exercise Cutlass Express, Jan. 30. Cutlass Express 2016, sponsored by U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), is designed to improve regional cooperation, maritime domain awareness (MDA) and information sharing practices to increase capabilities of participating nations to counter sea-based illicit activity. PORT VICTORIA, Seychelles (NNS) -- Maritime forces from Eastern Africa, Western Indian Ocean island nations, Europe and the United States, as well as several international organizations began the fifth iteration of the multinational maritime exercise Cutlass Express, Jan. 30.

Following its core strategy of continuous Africa Lines service upgrade, CMA CGM is pleased to present its latest significant improvement on its NOURA EXPRESS service connecting East Africa with Europe. Starting end of November 2015 with m/v MARIE DELMAS, NOURA EXPRESS fixed-day direct service from Kenya and Somalia will be upgraded with a weekly direct call at Salalah (Oman). First call is expected on December 12th, 2015. This service extension will allow smooth and fast connections from Salalah to Europe with EPIC service. - Excellent opportunity for commodities out of Uganda and Rwanda. Transit time Kampala-Hamburg in 44 days.

Japan and the European Union are strengthening antipiracy cooperation in the Gulf of Aden off Somalia, helping an international mission to reduce the number of attacks by pirates on commercial vessels to just two in 2014 from 174 in 2011, Japan’s Jiji Press news agency reported. The first operation took place in January 2014 when EU naval forces and Japan’s Maritime Self-Defence Force (MSDF) troops teamed up to capture a pirate ship. MSDF destroyer Samidare initially received information about a commercial ship coming under attack in the Gulf of Aden. It then sent a P-3C patrol aircraft to monitor the situation while an EU naval vessel from France was dispatched to the site to arrest five pirates.

Drydocks World and Maritime World announced the launch of Dubai Maritime Green Initiative, a movement to encourage all-round environmental excellence in maritime and allied sectors including oil, gas and energy. The initiative was inaugurated in the presence of decision-makers from government and industry and was underlined by MoU for green technology transfer with leading classification society DNV and Rolls-Royce a renowned marine systems provider. The main aim of the Initiative is to encourage companies engaged in research and development on green design…

The amphibious transport dock ship USS Trenton (LPD 14), was decommissioned Jan. 17 in a ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk. Immediately following the decommissioning, Trenton was recommissioned and transferred to the Indian Navy, bearing the name INS Jalashwa. The event marks the first time a U.S. Navy vessel has been transferred to the Indian navy. “Trenton will continue to serve all the free nations of the world, just as she served the United States, as we expand ‘the 1,000-ship navy,’” said Rear Adm. Garry Hall, Commander, Amphibious Group 2. In recent months, the crew of Trenton has been working alongside Indian sailors, training them to operate the ship efficiently and safely. The commanding officer of Jalashwa, Indian Navy Capt. B.S.

On Monday, February 24, European Union counter-piracy operation Atalanta and EUCAP Nestor, the civilian-led Maritime Security Capacity building EU Mission, hosted two training sessions for Tanzanian Maritime Police and Navy in Dar es Salaam to share knowledge and experiences in fight against piracy in the Horn of Africa and Western Indian Ocean region. The practical trainings held on board the EU Naval Force flagship, FS Siroco, were carried out by experienced trainers and dealt with typical piracy related situations.

Maritime forces from East Africa, South Africa, Europe, Indian Ocean nations, the United States and several international organizations began the fourth iteration of the multinational maritime Exercise Cutlass Express, Jan. 28, 2015. Exercise Cutlass Express 2015, sponsored by U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), is designed to improve regional cooperation, maritime domain awareness (MDA) and information-sharing practices to increase capabilities of East African and Indian Ocean nations to counter sea-based illicit activity. The exercise leverages The Djibouti Code of Conduct, which 21 nations are signatory to, as a framework for exercising information-sharing practices and enforcing maritime rule of law at sea.

An Australian warship patrolling the Indian Ocean has seized more than a tonne of heroin worth A$289 million ($268 million) from a dhow in Kenyan waters, Australia's Defense Department said on Friday. The frigate, HMAS Darwin, intercepted the vessel on Wednesday night 27 nautical miles east off Kenya's port city of Mombasa and confiscated 1,023 kg (2,255 pounds) of heroin in 46 sacks hidden in bags of cement, the department's website said. The drugs were destroyed, the online statement said. "This is a major heroin seizure, which has removed a major source of funding from terrorist criminal networks," Commander Terry Morrison, HMAS Darwin's Commanding Officer said.