Potential Maritime Disaster Averted
Collaboration between the Ports of East London and Ngqura, together with the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA), helped avert another potential maritime disaster in the Eastern Cape during the past week. Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) towed the BBC Shanghai, a 101 meter long general cargo vessel with 11 crew members on board, safely into the Port of East London on Friday, March 17, after she suffered engine failure en route from Durban to Lagos. One of TNPA’s new tugs – Shasa – which has a bollard pull of 70 metric tons…
Largest Car Carrier Ever to Sail into East London
Laden with a consignment of luxury vehicles for the South Africa market, the 231 metre ship mv Tijuca became the largest car carrier ever to sail into the Port of East London. The vessel is on its maiden voyage to the country with ports of call including Port Elizabeth and Durban. In East London the 13 deck ship took advantage of a recent expansion project which saw the berth at the car terminal deepened from 9.3 to 10.5 metres to accommodate larger vessels. East London Port Manager Jacqueline Brown said the vessel’s call highlighted the positive outlook in the new vehicles market.