South Africa’s Parliament ‘pleased’ by SAMSA’s work, and pledges more resources’ support.

Cape Town: 18 October 2024

South Africa’s Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport has expressed its pleasure and satisfaction with the work of the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA), even as the entity is hard pressed to jack up its boots to enhance levels of safety in the country’s waterways for both life and property at sea.

The positive rating on SAMSA’s performance over the past year was expressed by the Committee’s chairperson, Mr Selelo David Selamolelo during a scheduled oversight visit of and meeting with the entity’s management leadership on Saturday, 12 October 2024 in Cape Town.

Said Mr Selamolelo; “The maritime space is very important for economic emancipation, but also for moving, generally, the economy of the country…… emerging from this meeting with SAMSA, we are pleased and happy with the work that they are currently doing, even as there are areas that they must improve on, especially those relating to contracts management, and transformation.”

SAMSA’s management leadership for the occassion comprised members of its Board of non-executive directors led by its chairperson, Mr Mahesh Fakir, SAMSA executive management led by Acting Chief Executive Officer, Ms Mbalenhle Golding; in the presence also of the Deputy Minister of Transport, Mr Mkhuleko Hlengwa.

*_{SAMSA Board Chairperson, Mr Mahesh Fakir}*

The meeting took place at SAMSA’s Cape Town based Centre for Sea Watch & Response (incorporating the Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre) and which in 2024 has had to deal with a significantly higher number of maritime incidents compared with recent years, involving both transnational cargo vessels traversing across South Africa’s three oceans along a 3 200km coastline, as well as commercial fishing vessels; and from some of which incidents, in both caterogies, regrettably, life and property were lost at sea.

Regarding cargo vessels, incidents in the 2024 calendar year mostly involved ships losing containers at sea – with one eventually grounded on the west coast – all reportedly due to southern Africa’s adverse weather conditions this year. Among some of the cargo vessels’ incidents, in some instances, loss of crew members overboard were reported.

On the other hand, incidents related to commercial fishing vessels also involved no less than four of these, through either grounding (one in January in South Africa’s south east coast) or sinking (three in South Africa’s south west coast area over the last few months – with one resulting in a loss of 11 seafarers.

The spate of maritime incidents at South Africa’s oceans this year increasingly becoming a concern even at highest government level, five days prior to the portfolio committee on transport’s oversight meeting with SAMSA management leadership on Saturday, deputy Minister of Transport, Mr Hlengwa had also had a special meeting with SAMSA’s executive management, also in Cape Town.

This was for a briefing on among other issues, the progress being achieved in the salvage of the wreck of a general cargo ship, the MV Ultra Galaxy, that’s currently underway on South Africa’s west coast since its grounding in early July.

In Cape Town on Saturday afternoon, emerging from the SAMSA management leadership meeting, and another with South Africa’s Ports Regular management team, Mr Selamolelo said the committee was not merely pleased and happy with SAMSA’s performance for the period under review, but also pledged the committee’s full support for the resourcing of the country’s maritime safety authority.

He said: “Coming out of this meeting is that we, as the Portfolio Committee on Transport, may have to find a way to give more support in terms of resources to SAMSA because they are doing a lot of work in terms of ensuring safety in our waters.”

For his full remarks during a brief interview with this blog, please click on the video below.

Prior to the portfolio committee on transport meeting in Cape Town on Saturday, both the Deputy Minister of Transport, Mr Hlengwa, and SAMSA management leadership, led by Board chairperson, Mr Mahesh Fakir, and Acting CEO, Ms Mbalenhle Golding, paid a courtesy visit to the Nelson Mandela University based South African International Maritime Institute (SAIMI) two days earlier (Thursday, 10 October 2024).

The visit was the new deputy Minister’s first to the institution, for his briefing and an exchange of notes on progress being achieved by the Department of Higher Education funded SAIMI with maritime skills development, as well as about challenges in the training and education sector requiring mutual support, cooperation and collaboration.

_{VISITING SAIMI:}*_{(From Left) SAMSA CFO and Acting CEO, Ms Mbalenhle Golding, SAMSA Board Chairperson, Mr Mahesh Fakir, Transport Deputy Minister, Mr Mkhuleko Hlengwa and SAIMI CEO, Mr Odwa Mtati.}*

The event, which encompassed a tour of SAIMI partners’ related maritime skills development projects located at the Nelson Mandela University, capped this year’s maritime transport sector focus as part of the annual October Transport Month campaign by the Deparment of Transport nationally.

For a comprehensive coverage, involving both remarks shared by earmarked officials on the stage as well as brief interviews with the Deputy Minister of Transport, Mr Hlengwa and SAIMI chief executive officer, Mr Odwa Mtati, and a brief tour of a maritime related technology skills development facility at the NMU, click on the videos below.

Brief Interview Remarks:

_{Transport Deputy Minister, Mr Mkhuleko Hlengwa}

_{SA International Maritime Institute (SAIMI) CEO, Mr Odwa Mtati}

On Stage Remarks:

_{Nelson Mandela University Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation & Internationalisation, Prof Azwindi Muronga}

_{SAMSA Board Chairperson, Mr Mahesh Fakir}

^{Transport Deputy Minister, Mr Mkhuleko Hlengwa}

Closing Remaks

End

Seafarers safety and marine environmental protection under focus on ‘Transport Month’ in South Africa.

Pretoria: 08 October 2024

Seafarers’ safety and welfare, right along with tight protection of the oceans environment have come under close focus in South Africa in October – a month dedicated annually to transport safety – all in the wake of several vessels incidents this year and during some of which both life and property were lost at sea.

South Africa’s deputy Minister of Transport, Mr Mkhuleko Hlengwa on Tuesday met with the executive management of the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) and members of the SOE’s Board of Directors in Cape Town for a briefing on, among other things; progress with the salvage of the grounded Panama-flagged cargo vessel, the MV Ultra Galaxy, currently underway on South Africa’s west coast.

The grounding of the vessel in early July occured as the southern hemisphere’s wintry weather fully set in, characterised by choppy winds and rough seas, and amidst several other incidents recorded this year occuring along South Africa’s three oceans, from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Indian Ocean in the east.

The incidents – about 22 so far this year since January – included the sinking of no less than two fishing vessels, the FV Oceana Amethystone in April and the FV Lepanto in May both on the west coast- the latter with a sad loss of 11 lives.

These were preceded earlier in the year by the grounding of another fishing vessel on the Indian Ocean near St Francis Bay, the Elke M, and also followed by several other incidents involving both a handful of seafarers and more than 200 containers being lost overboard a number of cargo vessels.

In Cape Town on Tuesday, South Africa’s Transport Deputy Minister, Mr Hlengwa briefied by SAMSA management on the progress being achieved with the salvage work of the grounded vessel, the MV Ultra Galaxy and who wreck, now in three parts, is still partly submerged in a coastal area some 300 km north of Cape Town.

Also present for the deputy Minister’s briefing in Cape Town on Tuesday were Mr Michael Heads, MD of 2Opic and P&I Club representative, Mr Matt Moor, Chief Operating Officer and Head of Claims at Asia Pacific North Standard, Dr Sue Ware of ITOPF as well as officials of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment.

Mr Hlengwa heard that the MV Ultra Galaxy, a 124.56-meter-long general cargo vessel built in 2008, ran aground on the evening of Tuesday, 09 July 2024, off the coast of Duiwegat, just south of Brand se Baai on the West Coast.

This occurred just a day after the vessel, laden with fertiliser cargo from Europe and destined for Dar es Salaam in Tanzania was abandoned by its 18 member Pilipino crew after it had listed heavily while sailing south on the Atlantic Ocean a day before.

On its grounding, the initial effort by South African authorities as constituted by the country’s Incident Management Organisation (IMOrg) under the Department of Transport, focussed primarily on retrieving all cargo on board, consisting of the fertiliser as well as fuel on board.

However, this effort was virtually stillborn since just as soon as salvage started, it was immediately thwarted by extreme wintry weather conditions, leading to the fertiliser dissolving on exposure to sea water, and about 500 metric tons of low sulphur fuel and hydraulic oils spilling out and mostly washed ashore onto nearby beaches.

A clean-up operation that initially began with floating debris, ensued; expanding fully onto the oil and low sulphur fuel spill that was collected successfully for disposal.

Most recently, SAMSA confirmed that a tender process for the retrieval and removal of the wreck was already at an advanced stage of finalisation, after which the preferred services provider will be appointed to formally start with the work.

_{Ministerial Briefing: Mr Mahesk Fakir, SAMSA Board chairperson (standing) briefing Transport Deputy Minister, Mr Mkhuleko Hlengwa (seated, second from the right) in Cape Town on Tuesday, 08 October 2024, on progress being made with the salvage work of the grounded MV Ultra Galaxy lying in pieces on South Africa’s west coast since early July 2024.}

In his briefing of the Deputy Minister of Transport, SAMSA’s Board chairperson, Mr Mahesh Fakir, reiterated the entity’s full commitment to its legislated mandate of ensuring safety of life and property at sea and the protection of the marine environment, with critical focus on its safety mandate.

Crucially however, he said: “As we look into the future, we must ask ourselves, how do we sustainably fund and maintain the capacity to prevent such incidents in the future.” Also important, he said, was greater support and collaboration with both the maritime sector and industry as well as other state departments and entities.

Regarding the salvage of the MV Ultra Galaxy, he said the plan was to have both the wreck and removed and the affected natural environment rehabilitated to its original condition.

In response, Mr Hlengwa thanked both SAMSA, the DFFE and industry principals and experts for their continued keen involvement and contribution to the work of SAMSA, and by extention, that of the Department of Transport and government.

“It is our belief that together, we can promote South Africa’s maritime interests and contribute to a safer, cleaner and more sustainable oceans environment; and I invite you to engage with us with any ideas that you might have in order to take this work forward,” said Mr Hlengwa.

For their brief remarks, click on video below.

Philippines Ambassador visits SAMSA

Prior to the briefing of the South Africa deputy Minister of Transport, Mr Hlengwa on Tuesday, SAMSA’s Southern Region management in Gqeberha also hosted Philippines’ Ambassador to South Africa, Ms Noralyn Jubaira Baja for a courtesy visit that centred on strengthening of relations between the two countries with regards the safety and welfare of seafarers.

All 18 crew members of the MV Ultra Galaxy who were safely evacuated and expatriated were Phillipinos. In a brief interview shortly after the meeting, Ms Baja described the visit and meeting as a routine,intended primarily to firm up relations with SAMSA regional offices spread across South Africa’s coastline from Richards Bay in the east to Port Nolloth in the west, with a view to ensuring the safety and welfare of Philipino seafarers worldwide.

Her schedule in the city would also involve a visit of a vessel at Algoa Bay with Philipino crew members. For her brief chat, click on the video above.

End.

It’s all systems go for bunkering services in South Africa: SAMSA

Pretoria: 05 May 2024

Ships bunker services provision in South Africa – inclusive of off-shore operations – is well on track, with applications, approvals and issuance of licenses currently being managed expeditiously, the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) has confirmed.

However, according to SAMSA’s Acting CEO, Mr Tau Morwe, operators have to ensure that they are compliant with requirements of SAMSA as well as both the South African Revenue Services (SARS) and the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA).

Mr Morwe made the confirmation on the status quo of bunkering services in South Africa during a day long maritime sector bunkering services roundtable meeting attended by about 80 people in Durban on Tuesday. (30 April 2024).

Representatives included industry principals, primarily ship owners and agents and some of whom are active bunkering services providers, state officials from Treasury, SARS, the Department of Transport, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment, TNPA, Ports Regulator South Africa and SAMSA; ship-to-ship services providers and interested or affected parties – among them, environmental groups – as well as delegates from Mauritius, Mozambique and Namibia.

Mr Morwe’s remarks came in the wake of an apparent entrenching confusion or misunderstanding in the country’s maritime sector about the real state of bunkering services provision and administration, this coming in the wake of a clampdown by SARS on certain operators related to taxation issues during the latter part of 2023, as well as a ‘moratorium’ said to have been placed on the issuing of licences.

Flanked by Mr Mahesh Fakir, the chairperson of SAMSA’s Board of Directors, in his closing remarks of the gathering, Mr Morwe stated: “Where SAMSA stands is that applications for off shore bunkering, in terms of Section 21 (1) b (Prevention and Combating of Pollution of the Sea by Oil Act. 1981) is in process. Anyone can make the application.

“The TNPA and SAMSA are agreed on the continued processing of applications. However, in the processing of the applications, we remind applicants that we are not the only regulator, and they (applicants), have to tick the TNPA box, ensure that they are compliant with SARS. If that is in place, there is nothing preventing applicants or operators from conducting business. That is the state of affairs.”

“… there is nothing that says the business (of bunkering) is closed. I repeat, anyone wanting to apply for an operator license may do so. Tick the SARS box, tick the TNPA box!” said Mr Morwe.

For his full remarks, click on the video below.

_{Mr Tau Morwe, SAMSA Acting CEO making his closing remarks at the SAMSA organised Maritime Sector Bunkering Services Round Table Event held in Durban on Tuesday, 30 April 2024 .}

Meanwhile, for a complete coverage of the SAMSA organised Maritime Sector Bunkering Services Round Table event in Durban on Tuesday last week, this blog captured as best it could the meetings’ proceedings as presented below. The only record unavailable, due in part to technology limitations, is that of regulators from Mauritius, Namibia and Mozambique who all were planned to make a virtual appearance online.

Key take-aways:

Bunkering along with related ship-to-ship transfers services have a long history in South Africa and remain a major business and economic opportunity for sustained expoitation, given the country’s almost perfect geolocation at the foot of the African continent, with an ocean space global shipping corridor that is equidistant between western and eastern countries.
With expansion of particularly bunkering services to off shore, notably in Algoa Bay since 2016, the regulatory domain has lagged behind for clarity, leading to disruption and confusion as evidenced by a 2023 SARS clampdown on some operators in Algoa Bay due to taxation related matters
The haitus has led to vast loss of business opportunity and income in the past few years especially since the break-out of strife and wars affecting major shipping lines in the Middle East and eastern Europe and which led to an increase in shipping traffic sailing along the Cape of Good Hope ocean corridor.
SARS related regulations are in the process of being finalised and should soon be operational.
Going forward, SAMSA, the TNPA and SARS are the key (but not exclusive) state institutions whose regulations operators – current or aspirant – must comply with.
Overall, there is an agreed need both by the relevant state institutions (SAMSA, TNPA, SARS, Ports Regulator, DFFE) and the private sector for closer cooperation and collaboration between the regulatory institutions, as well as about ongoing engagement and interaction with all stakeholders and interested parties in the maritime sector.
A commitment is reached that established forums in the bunkering subsector as well as periodic maritime sector and regulators roundtable meetings shall continue into the future.

In the package below, in the order of their appearance and presentations, first up are Welcoming and Opening Remarks by Mr Morwe and Mr Fakir respectively, in which they broadly outline the standpoint of SAMSA on the state of bunkering administration in South Africa.

_{Mr Tau Morwe, SAMSA Acting CEO making his welcoming remarks.}

_{Mr Mahesh Fakir, SAMSA Board chairperson making his opening remarks.}

Next are representatives of the Ports Regulator, TNPA and SAMSA on the status quo of bunkering services.

_{Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) presentation}

^{Ports Regulator SA presentation}

_{South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) presentation}

Following are representatives of the Treasury, SARS and the DFFE on “Government on bunkering risk, opportunities and enablement.”

_{Treasury Department presentation}

_{South African Revenue Service (SARS) presentation}

^{Department of Forestry, Fisheries & Environment presentation}

_{Question & Answers Session 1}

Finally, below – in no particular order – are representatives of industry (including the South African Association of Ship Owners and Agents (SAASOA), on their own individual and group perspectives, afterwhich a final Question and Answer Session ensues.

_{Mr Dan Ngakane, CEO of Amsol.}

_{Mr Peter Besnard, CEO of SAASOA}

_{Mr Kurt Theunis: Linsen-Nambi Bunkering Services}

_{Mr Stuart Klapprott: MOL Chemical Carriers}

^{Ms Nomkhitha Mbele: James Fisher Fender Care}

_{Question & Answers Session 2}

End.

South Africa maritime sector decarbonisation roadmap on GHG Emissions Reduction is on the roll. SAMSA

Pretoria: 15 February 2024

Development of South Africa Maritime Sector Decarbonisation Roadmap is now well on track following to an inaugural roundtable meeting of the sectors’ key role players, led by the Department of Transport (DoT) and the South African Maritime Authority (SAMSA); in Newlands, Cape Town, a week ago.

According to SAMSA, the Ministerial roundtable on development of a Maritime Sector Decarbonisation Roadmap is South Africa’s latest tacit response and contribution towards pursuit for fulfilment of its commitment to implementation of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) 2023 Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships.

The revised IMO GHG Strategy, according to SAMSA, includes an enhanced common ambition to reach net-zero GHG emissions from international shipping by or around 2050, a commitment to ensure an uptake of alternative zero and near-zero GHG fuels by 2030, as well as indicative checkpoints for 2030 and 2040.

Among other factors, ‘indicative checkpoints’ to reach net-zero GHG emissions from international shipping include strife for reduction of total annual GHG emissions from international shipping by at least 20%, striving for 30%, by 2030, compared to 2008; and reduction of total annual GHG emissions from international shipping by at least 70%, striving for 80%, by 2040, compared to 2008.

South Africa as a member of the IMO, said SAMSA, has a responsibility to progress the decisions of the organisation, with SAMSA expected to lead the implementation of such decisions, in line with objective 3 of the SAMSA Act.

There had now developed concerns, however, that “with the adoption of the revised 2023 IMO GHG Strategy, South Africa is still to develop its own roadmap on achieving the vision and targets aimed at decarbonising shipping.

“To advance the objectives of the GHG strategy and implementation of the developed IMO regulations aimed at decarbonising shipping, South Africa is still to finalise the legislative instrument to give effect to Annexure VI (Energy Efficiency of Ships) of the MARPOL Convention.”

Thus, according to SAMSA, the roundtable discussion on Friday last week was aimed at initiating a crafting phase of South Africa’s maritime approach and alignment to climate change programmes for purposes of GHG emissions reduction as contained in the IMO strategy.

Precisely, said SAMSA, the focus was on various issues, inclusive of an assessment of the country’s strategic approach to the subject relative to its geographic location, the country’s potential to produce clean fuels based on its renewable energy resources, the identification of possible green corridors, possible best approaches to leveraging economic opportunities such as clean fuels bunkering – over and above reduction of domestic emissions – and the potential impact of the entire exercise on the country’s economy inclusive of trade.

At last week’s roundtable meeting, in response to the Minister of Transport, Ms Sindisiwe Chikunga’s call for action, in addition to SAMSA senior management as well as the entity’s Board chairperson, Mr Mahesh Fakir, participation included representatives of the IMO (World Maritime University), South Africa ship owners and operators, the country’s ports authority (Transnet National Ports Authority), mining, environmental, energy, education and training, and related industry associated experts.

Also attending was about a dozen of about 30 officials from various South African public institutions and private maritime sector companies who’d earlier in the week, spent four (4) days in Cape Town on an executive professional development training course on Maritime Energy Management and Decarbonisation conducted by the World Maritime University.

The lineup of speakers and contributors to the discussion, included DoT Deputy Director, Maritime Branch; Mr Mthunzi Madiya (officially representing the Minister of Transport), SAMSA Board Chairperson Mr Mahesh Fakir, SAMSA Acting CEO and COO, Mr Tau Morwe and Mr Sobantu Tilayi, respectively; Mr Mkhuthazi Teleki (Department of Forestry Fisheries and Environment), Mr Tauqeer Ahmed (TNPA), Mr Andrew Millard (Vuka Marine), Mr Dan Ngakane (African Marine Solutions), Mr Sanda Zungu (Phalaborwa Mining Company), Dr Ita Mabaso (PetroSA), and Mr Johannes Bochdalofsky, co-founder and CEO of SeaH4.

At the conclusion of the discussion, SAMSA Chief Operations Officer, Mr Sobantu Tilayi summed up the day as having been ‘most productive, with great progress.” For his full remarks, click on the video below.

_{SAMSA Chief Operations Officer, Mr Sobantu Tilayi on the outcomes of the Ministerial maritime sector decarbonisation roadmap development roundtable held in Cape Town}

For SAMSA ACEO, Mr Tau Morwe’s introductory remarks, click on the video below.

For the Minister, Ms Chikunga’s key opening address (presented by Mr Madiya), click on the video below.

For SAMSA Board chairperson, Mr Mahesh Fakir’s concluding remarks.

Additionally, for further insights into the four (4) day workshop held earlier in the week preceding the roundtable discussions, conducted by the World Maritime University, this blog chatted briefly, separately, with both SAMSA’s Acting Chief Human Capital Officer, Mr Tebogo Mojafi, and one of the course conductors, Professor Dr. Aykut I. Ölçer.

For their respective remarks, click on the videos below.

End.

‘South Africa is open for business’: Vuka Marine – owner of now three SA registered cargo ships

Pretoria: 22 June 2019

South Africa’s ship registry has been given a boost with the registration of yet another vessel operated by Vuka Marine, bringing to close on half a dozen the number of operational ships now carrying the South African flag in world oceans.

The Vuka Marine cargo vessel known as the Windsor Adventure: Port Elizabeth, was formally welcomed into the country’s ship registry at a ceremony held in the city of its registry and home, the port of Port Elizabeth this past week.

Guests attending included representatives of the Department of Transport (DoT), the Ports Regular of South Africa, the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA), the Eastern Cape provincial government, the Nelson Mandela University (NUM), the South African International Maritime Institute (SAIMI), the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) and other business and institutions representatives.

Vuka Marine is a joint venture between Via Maritime of South Africa and K-Line of Japan. The company is currently moving about 2.5-metric tons of ore per annum, mainly on the first two capesize bulk carriers that it flagged in South Africa in 2015.

The latest addition is the third cargo ship operated by Vuka Marine to be registered under the South African flag and the fifth so far in the registry since launch of the SAMSA driven campaign to revitalise the commercial ship stock registered in South Africa about a decade or so ago – an apparently painstaking venture it has proved to be to date.

At the port of Port Elizabeth on Tuesday, both senior national and provincial government officials attending, including the Eastern Cape’s MEC for Transport, Ms Weziwe Tikana, expressed delight at the growth of ships now coming carrying the South Africa flag, however slow, and also acknowledged the need for speed in adding more into fold of the registry in far higher numbers if the country was to realise its ambitions of developing the country’s maritime economy transport sub-sector, develop skills and create employment.

In the videos below, all six speakers – Captain Brynn Adamson (Harbor Master: Port of Port Elizabeth; Mr Mahesh Fakir (CEO: Ports Regulator SA), Mr Metse Ralephenya (Marine Transport: DoT), Mr Andrew Millard (CEO: Vuka Marine), Mr Sobantu Tilayi (acting CEO: SAMSA) and Ms Weziwe Tikana (MEC for Transport: Eastern Cape) were unanimous in praise of the joint effort and close collaboration being achieved in delivering on the ship registry campaign. They also expressed determination in ensuring that hiccups currently being experienced, especially with taxation and related business costs of ship registration under the South African flag must be resolved.

In their order of appearance, Capt: Adamson said the port of Elizabeth was proud to be the home of no less than four operating vessels registered calling the port their home.

The four include the three operated by Vuka Marine and one other operated by bunking services company, Aegian. For his full remarks, click on the video below.

Ports Regulator, Mr Mahesh Fakir elaborated on financial incentives now approved in preference of vessels coming under the South African flag, as well as necessary operational conditions expected of ships registered in South Africa which he said were consistent with the country’s maritime sector developmental goals.

This was coming against the backdrop that South Africa relies on about 12 000 foreign vessels to carry 96 per cent of its exports to the rest of the world each year, leaving it strategically vulnerable.

On incentives, Mr Fakir said South Africa currently offers up to 30 per cent discount on port dues by ships locally registered. On operational conditions, among other things, he said it was important that vessels carrying trade goods outbound and inbound, as well as personnel manning the vessels, should increasingly be South African.

For more on his remarks, Click on the video below:

“South Africa is open for business….” were the closing remarks of Vuka Marine CEO, Mr Andrew Millard in summation of both his company’s experience and achievements in its quest for registration of its cargo vessels dating as far back as 2009 and one of which only got registered in 2014.

Among notable achievements being increasingly realised was the placement to date of some 50 young South African cadets on its vessels, the absorption of about dozen of these into full-time employment, and a current recruitment campaign for more young trainees known in the sub-sector as ‘ratings’.

He said Vuka Marine was also keen to assist the country’s ship registry through sharing experiences with ship operators keen on carrying the South African flag.

Mr Millard’s views were earlier echoed by the company’s chairman, Mr Andrew Mthembu, who remarked: “We are thrilled to welcome the Windsor Adventure into Vuka Marine’s fleet. This acquisition demonstrates our ongoing commitment to the development of the South Africa’s maritime industry, the national registry, and our seafarer population.”

For Mr Millard full remarks, Click on the video below:

For SAMSA, the campaign to enrol more commercial cargo vessels in the country’s ship registry had proved tedious, unnecessarily at times due to lack of co-operation by some important institutions.

“We are 95% towards setting up everything in place to ensure a smooth operation in drawing ships into the country’s registry, but that five per cent that’s outstanding is the difference between success and failure'” said SAMSA acting CEO, Mr Sobantu Tilayi.

Issues involving taxation were among the impediments, but so was more closer co-operation and collaboration necessary from particular the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA), he said. For his full remarks Click on the video below.

Ms Weziwe Tikana, MEC for Transport in the Eastern Cape described it as befitting that newly registered vessels under the SA flag had their home in the province. She said the province had the privilege of having the second longest coastline in the country after the Western Cape but had little to show for it so far. However, she said, since launch of Operation Phakisa (Oceans Economy) by government in 2014, the province had resolve to increase its economic contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product based on maritime economic sector growth,

This, she said, was necessary not just for economic growth but also for social transformation and higher participation by all South Africans.

For her full remarks, Click on he video below:

DoT’s Marine Transport directorate official, Mr Metse Ralephenya was full of praise that ‘pressure’ from the department on SOE CEOs involved in maritime transport was truly beginning to pay off handsomely, and vowed on behalf of DoT to ensure that necessary support by government was given.

For his full remarks, Click on the video below.

While being celebrated, the 56 000dwt Windsor Adventure was busy taking on board yet another load of locally mined minerals destined for overseas markets.

End

Ports Consultative Council a key cog in South Africa’s ports management: SAMSA

Pretoria: 10 June 2019

Democratization of South Africa’s ports space is among key goals of the establishment of the country’s Ports Consultative Committee (PCC).

The PCC is a statutory structure set up by Government with a view to ensuring that all economic participants at the country’s major ports have equal access and contribution to management of the ports infrastructure and associated resources.

This is according to the PCC Secretariat, the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) during the holding of the first ever meeting of Gauteng based ports stakeholders in Johannesburg recently. Johannesburg is South Africa’s financial capital with several investors in the country’s ports based on or operating from the inland city.

The PCC was established by the Department of Transport in terms of sections 80(1)(a), (c), (d) and (g) of the National Ports Act, 2005 and has been operational in the country’s nine commercial ports for some time since.

The PCC’s presence and role also fulfills part of the mandate of the Ports Regular of South Africa which requires that the regulator “must conduct a public participation process as part of the economic review in each of the ports, including conduct one or more public hearings in the manner set out in the Directives issued by the Regulator in terms of the Act.”

Some of Gauteng based SA ports stakeholders attending this year’s first Port Consultative Committee roadshow in Johannesburg on Wednesday 29 May 2019.

In this year’s round of ports stakeholder consultations involving roadshows from Richards Bay in the east coast through to Saldanha Bay in the west coast, the PCC for the first time included Gauteng based ports stakeholders, with a meeting held at a venue near O.R Tambo international airport on Wednesday, 29 May 2019.

Ms Selma Schwarz-Clausen, a senior official of SAMSA charged with handling the secretariat responsibility of SAMSA for the PCC, described the first ever staging of the meeting for Gauteng based ports stakeholders a major step forward in ensuring broad and inclusive participation by all key and relevant stakeholders in the development and management of the country’s parts for economic beneficiation of all.

In the following video, Ms Schwarz-Clausen explains the role of the PCC and goals.

Mr Mahesh Fakir. Chief Executive Officer: Ports Regulator of South Africa

Also attending the meeting was Mr Mahesh Fakir, Chief Executive Officer of the Ports Regulator of South Africa. He also explained his role in National Ports Consultative Committee which he described as on the whole, as that of an observer who contributes in discussions if requested to do so, but “is not be permitted to participate in any voting or raise any objections to any action, decision, or advice proposed to be taken or given by the Committee.”

In the three (30 minutes video below, Mr Fakir briefly outlines the role of the Ports Regular in general as well as its interest in the work of the National Ports Consultative Committee.

DCIM101MEDIADJI_0033.JPG

DCIM101MEDIADJI_0089.JPG

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DCIM101MEDIADJI_0028.JPG

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DCIM101MEDIADJI_0035.JPG

End

South Africa maritime sector development; the game is on for the country’s inland provinces: SAMSA

INLAND PROVINCES INVITED: The sun rising above the Xhariep Dam on the Orange River on Thursday, as the country joined global observation of World Maritime Day 2016

Bloemfontein: 30 September 2016

Exploration and responsible exploitation of maritime sector opportunities are not the preserve of only South Africa’s coastal provinces but are a multi-billion rand worth golden opportunity all people in the country should equally pursue and enjoy, speakers at this year’s World Maritime Day celebration on Thursday, 29 September 2016 emphasised.

Leading the charge at the function held this year on the west end of the Gariep Dam – South Africa’s biggest by far – situated at the Orange River, some 200km south of Bloemfontein, Free State Province – was South African Maritime Safety Authority’s (SAMSA) acting Chief Executive Officer, Mr Sobantu Tilayi, along with his counterparts in Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) CE, Mr Richard Vallihu and National Ports Regulator, Mr Mahesh Fakir

GAME'S ON! South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA acting CEO at this year's World Maritime Day 2016 event at the Gariep Dam in the Free State. — GAME’S ON! South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA acting CEO at this year’s World Maritime Day 2016 event at the Gariep Dam in the Free State.

Addressing an audience of about 600 people, just about half of whom were high school pupils deliberately bussed in from surrounding rural schools for a career exposition, Mr Tilayi said the country’s maritime economic sector, long in the periphery of economic activity for particularly the black majority, was now an open canvass upon which talent is being be drawn from across all sectors of society for the greater benefit of all.

With South Africa’s maritime economic sector, through the Operation Phakisa initiative, projected to contribute as much as R177-billion to the country’s Gross Domestic Product and in the process creating as many as 800 000 to 1-million direct jobs by 2033, according to Mr Tilayi, it was incumbent upon leadership of inland provinces to quickly but carefully figure out how communities located here could benefit.

Part of the audience during the World Maritime Day 2016 event observed in South Africa at the Gariep Dam in the Free State on Thursday, 29 September 2016

Under Operation Phakisa (Ocean Economy), key focus areas comprised marine transport and manufacturing, offshore oil and gas exploration, aquaculture, marine protection services and governance, small harbours, maritime heritage, coastal and marine tourism involving also inland waters, skills and capacity building and research technology and innovation.

These are backed up by Government’s port and onshore infrastructure development – some with private sector investors – involving about R500-billion over the next decade spread across and in between the country’s eight major ports from Saldanha Bay in the west through to Richards Bay in the east.

Saldanha Oil & Gas 1 In part, this was to take advantage of the business and job creation opportunities presented by the approximately 30 000 vessels (about 60% of total global fleet) passing South Africa each year, and about 13 000 of which dock at the country’s ports for a whole range of reasons – a global sea trade scenario Mr Tilayi described as positioning South Africa as the “corner café” of the global shipping industry given its equidistant location at the southern tip of the African continent between western and eastern countries.

Through this steadily increasing opportunity, previously neglected coastal cities such as Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape – now with the country’s deepest port, the port of Ngqurha – were benefitting by as much as R150-million per month due to recently introduced bunkering services.

Mr Tilayi, however, dismissed it as ignorance and a misconception that people in the country’s four coastal provinces stretching some 3000km from the Atlantic Ocean to the Indian Ocean – Northern Cape, Western Cape, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal – for close proximity only, were necessarily better advantaged or entitled to exploration and exploitation of maritime sector economic opportunities.

Indeed, from a maritime sector skills development perspective, he said, Limpopo – the most inland and furthest province from the oceans by more than a thousand kilometers in any direction – was proving the notion a myth as it competed equally, progressively with coastal provinces, ranking second to KwaZulu-Natal in the production of seafarers now numbering close on 12 000.

TRAILBLAZER: South Africa maritime transport subsector pioneer, Captain Tshepo Motloutsi, the first of three black women in the country to qualify as a ship captain, or Master Marine in 2016 — A TRAILBLAZER: South Africa maritime transport subsector pioneer, Captain Tshepo Motloutsi of Limpopo the first of three black women in the country to qualify as a ship captain, or Master Marine in 2016

In addition to an increasing number of cadets from Limpopo at the country’s maritime sector education focused institutions, Mr Tilayi said the province made maritime sector history recently as a home to one of the first ever three young black women to qualify as Master Mariners qualified to handle any type or size of commercial vessel anywhere in the world.

Stressing an importance of recognition that skills and business opportunities in the country’s maritime sector were by no means limited at all by ocean-going, but rather involving occupations also as basic as farming, manufacturing or services with no direct connection with seafaring, he said the Free State province, the most central of the country’s five inland provinces, had every reason to figure out urgently how to take advantage of its location in order to position itself as a meaningful player also in the maritime economic sector.

FOCUSED: Arzebaijan Ambassador to South Africa, Dr Eikhan Polukhov among senior officials attending the World Maritime Day 2016 at the Gariep Dam in the Free State

Mr Tilayi also urged Government and the private sector to increasingly work much closer together. He said while it was Government’s role to facilitate business investment opportunities, it was private sector investors’ responsibility to actively show appetite through direct engagement and involvement.

For Mr Tilayi’s full remarks on the subject; (Audio only: Click Here ) or for (Video; Click Here

Transnet's National Ports Authority (TNPA) CEO, Mr Richard Vallihu giving assurances to the meeting about NPA's commitment to stick to deadlines for earmarked oil and gas infrastructure development at the port of Saldanha during Monday/s first of week long Presidential Imbizos — Transnet’s National Ports Authority (TNPA) CEO, Mr Richard Vallihu

Meanwhile, Mr Vallihu of Transnet’s National Ports Authority extended an invitation to the Free State community to take advantage of the ports authority vast training programme across several interrelated transport sectors – road, rail and sea.

He said the NPA with four divisions is currently involved in an infrastructure, transport and logistics investment over 10 years since 2012 worth half a trillion rand. Since 2012 to date he said, the NPA had spent some R124-billlion on these, but also as much as R8-billion in skills development alone, leading to the graduation in 2015 of close on 4 000 trainees in various skills.

To increase public awareness of the opportunities, Mr Vallihu announced that the NPA had launched a free WiFi service in mostly disadvantaged communities of the eight port cities to enable people to fully gain access to relevant information relating to the ports’ activities.

To listen to Mr Vallihu’s full remarks, Click Here

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South Africa to beef up ocean environment protection against pollution: Department of Transport

South Africa also boasts cheapest tariffs for merchant shipping sector than any other ports in the world: National Ports Regulator

Xhariep Dam (Free State): 30 September 2016

The beefing up of ocean environmental protection, particularly pollution prevention as well improvement of labour conditions for seafarers are among a series of initiatives currently being pursued in broad efforts to enhance rejuvenation and development of the maritime esector, the Transport Department confirmed this past week during the global observation of the World Maritime Day 2016.

Speaking at South Africa’s own version of the event held at Xhariep Dam in the Free State on Thursday, and whose international theme for 2016 was: Shipping is indispensable to the World; Transport Department maritime transport branch acting deputy Director General, Mr Clement Manyungwana highlighted a series of activities the department was engaged in currently with several stakeholders – among them other Government departments, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) – to strengthen the country’s hold and management of its maritime sector development drive.

According to Mr Manyungwana, among the initiatives he said were closely aligned to the country’s National Development Plan (NDP) were;

development of an integrated transport strategy,
enhancement of ocean security through acquisition of additional vessels,
promulgation of legislation to advance the protection of seafarers onboard vessels, as well as
development of further maritime policy and legislation

The improvement and enhancement of ocean environmental protection regarding particularly oil pollution was in part, in recognition and appreciation of the growth in shipping traffic drawn to newly established bunkering services at the country’s newest deep water port, the port of Ngqurha near Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape province.

For his full remarks (Audio only), Click Here

Ports Regulator & CEO, Mr Mahesh Fakir with Department of Transport Deputy Minister, Ms Sindisiwe Chikunga at the port of Saldanha on Monday — National Ports Regulator & CEO, Mr Mahesh Fakir

Meanwhile, National Ports Regulator CE, Mr Manesh Fakir said in efforts dedicated to attracting more global business trade vessels onto the countries’ port and to enhance local exports competitiveness, several studies had been conducted over the last year and which have led to identification of various efficiencies as well as establishment of a basket of incentives in the form of tariff reductions.

Mr Fakir said as a result, shipping liners reporting on South Africa’s ports now enjoyed lower prices of up to 50% less in comparison with comparable ports elsewhere in the world, with iron ore shipments specifically now paying less by up to 70-80% – largely due to the Rand/Dollar exchange effect.

On efforts to bolster South Africa’s export trade, he said that locally manufactured goods for export through containers also enjoyed as much as 70% lower tariffs compared containerized imports.

However, Mr Fakir warned that with global fleets increasing vessel carrying capacities leading to reduction in actual fleets, tariffs would not hold down for too long and might indeed increase over the next 10 years largely due to infrastructure maintenance and upgrading costs.

For Mr Fakir’s full remarks (Audio only), Click Here

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