Tag: Transnet National Ports Authority

Sea future safety vested on youth; South Africa’s focus on World Maritime Day 2024

Durban: 01 October 2024

In marking World Maritime Day 2024, under the theme: ‘Navigating the Future: Safety First’, South Africa – with an event held in Durban a week ago – literally took the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) chosen subject for this year by the scruff of the neck, by devoting the entire event to school children’s maritime awareness elevation and exposure to careers in the sector.

No less than 500 pupils from as many as 10 high schools in KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape provinces filled the popular Transnet N-Shed adjacent the port of Durban’s Cruise Passenger Terminal on Thursday last week, for this year’s WMD domestic celebration.

The hosts were the provincial Department of Transport and Human Settlements, under the leadership of MEC, Mr Siboniso Duma, and the Ethekwini Maritime Clusture jointly with the Transnet National Port Authority (TNPA) and the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA).

Mr Duma, flanked by the Mayor of Durban, Mr Cyril Xaba, was joined also by officials of the Port of Natal Maritime Museum, Life Saving SA, as well as education and training institutions and private sector companies’ representatives as exhibitors.

These included Amsol, the Durban University of Technology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Moses Kotane Institute, national Department of Transport, Ethekwini Biodiversity, Lifesavers Association, Ethekwini Natural Resource Development, Go Digital South Africa, Sharks Board, and others.

The invitation and hosting of school children during celebration of the WMD in South Africa, or any other of the IMO’s global calendar events – including Day of the Seafarers, held annually also on June 25 – is not uncommon nor their participation often limited.

However, for this year’s WMD celebration in Durban, their presence and being the central focal point of the event was as readily noticeable as it tied neatly with the year’s IMO chosen theme.

Mr Nkumbuzo Ben-Mazwi, Acting Port Manager; Port of Durban

According to TNPA’s port of Durban Acting Port Manager, Mr Nkumbuzo Ben-Mazwi: “This year’s theme says ‘Navigating the Future; Safety First‘ and so it is that by focusing on school children we are navigating the future through the young people in order to ensure that when we are no longer here, they will be able to run these ports even better than we have done.”

Towards this end, the event approach was to devote it wholesome to raising awareness of as many youths as possible on the day about the country and world’s maritime sector, inclusive of their exposure to the numerous career opportunities therein. That way, said Mr Ben-Mazwi, South Africa would secure the future safety and sustainability of the country maritime sector, and by extension the safety of the sea.

For his full remarks, click on the video below.

Meanwhile, during a chance, albeit, brief interview with Dr Dusty-Lee Donnelly, Director of Law and Maritime Studies at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, this blog established that the university – one of a handful of this country’s institutions of higher learning with dedicated faculties on maritime studies – was already at an advanced stage of further engaging more youth in maritime education and training through deliberate linkages sought to be established with the country’s +50 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges.

Dr Dusty-Lee Donnelly, Director of Law and Maritime Studies, KwaZulu-Natal University

“We want to put South Africa on the world map in all aspects of the maritime sphere….” quipped Dr Donnelly, revealing that beginning next year (2025) the university will be spreading its offerings.

This would involve among other initiatives; the launch of a specialised post-graduate certificate of education (PGCE) course, as well as an advanced diploma programme for TVET colleges lectures keen on acquiring or increasing their knowledge and practice to various branches of maritime studies.

The initiative, she said, was being pursued in collaboration with the Nelson Mandela University based South African International Maritime Institute (SAIMI) and the Durban Maritime Cluster – a key local business grouping with interest in maritime sector activities in the KwaZulu-Natal province.

For her full remarks on this and related, click on the video below.

Also present was Department of Transport deputy director for Maritime Industry Development, Ms Lindiwe Mawowa who also weighed on the significance of the approach to the WMD 2024 celebration by South Africa, restating the singular importance of the deliberate focus on youth.

For her full views, click on the video below.

Marking WMD 2024: On stage presentations.

World Maritime Day 2024 South Africa, Durban hosted celebratory event presenters: (From Top Left to Bottom Right), Mr Nkumbuzo Ben Mazwi (TNPA), Ms Zandile Cele (Port of Natal Maritime Museum), Capt. Thokozani Mthethwa (Port of Durban), Mr Dhaya Sewduth (LifeSaving SA), Capt. Hopewll Mkhize (SAMSA) and Mr Siboniso Duma (KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport & Human Settlements)

For the event presentations on stage, inclusive of the Opening Remarks (TNPA), Welcome Address (SAMSA) and Keynote Speech (KwaZulu-Natal provincial MEC for Transport & Human Settlements), click on the videos below.

More content to follow.

End.

Day of the Seafarer 2024: SA maritime sector pays tribute to 11 SA fishermen lost at sea in May.

Day of the Seafarer 2024
Day of the Seafarer 2024: Durban. 25 June 2024. Senior government officials, heads of organisations and companies, seaferarers and others attending, devoting a minute’s silence in memory of South Africa’s 11 fishermen lost at sea, and presumed dead in May 2024.

Pretoria: 04 July 2024

South Africa joined the global maritime community on June 25, the Day of the Seafarer, to honour and pay tribute to seafarers, in an event hosted in three of the country’s coastal cities of Cape Town, Gqeberha and Durban.

The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) in partnership with the Department of Transport (DoT) and Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) led the event in Durban KwaZulu-Natal, while the DoT held base in Cape Town, and the South African International Maritime Institute (SAIMI) hosted the Gqeberha leg.

SAMSA and the maritime captains saluted the endeavours of the seafarers who risk their lives at sea for months on end, annually.

Ushered by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) with the theme: “Seafarers’ contribution to making the maritime sector a safer workplace”, key speakers at the SAMSA event included Mr Dumisani Ntuli; Chief Director: Maritime Policy and Legislation at the DoT, Mr Tau Morwe, SAMSA Acting Chief Executive Officer (ACEO), along with representatives of maritime sector companies, among them; Mediterranean Shipping Company (MCS), South African Association of Ship Operators and Agents (SASOA), and  Fender Care.

Mr Mahesh Fakir:
SAMSA Board Chairperson
Mr Dumisani Ntuli.Chief Director: Maritime Policy and Legislation. Department of Transport
Ms Siphumelele Gcaba
Fender Care Representative

True to the spirit of the theme of the Day, the gathering in Durban dedicated a minute of silence in remembrance of the 11 South African crewmen who tragically lost their lives after their Cape Town based fishing trawler rapidly sank in the Atlantic Ocean on 17 May 2024. The fishing trawler, FV Lepanto, according to reports at the time, had 20 crew members on board, with nine (9) having survived the ordeal after being rescued.

SAMSA’s Board Chair, Mr. Mahesh Fakir, reflected on the incident as indicative of the most challenging working environments seafarers in South Africa and global have to deal with as well as vital role they continue to play to the world economy.

He noted that an investigation was still underway on the tragic Cape Town fishing vessel incident.

Mr Tau Morwe. Acting CEO. South African Maritime Safety Authority

Also, in his opening remarks, speaking on the theme of the day and stressing the pivotal role seafarers play in ensuring safety in the maritime sector Mr Morwe, said: “The (Day of the Seafarer 2024) theme serves as a reminder of the crucial role that seafarers play in ensuring their own safety and the safety of the vessels while navigating the unpredictable sea. The maritime industry is a challenging and demanding environment where seafarers face numerous risks.”

“It is through their unwavering dedication, professionalism, and commitment to safety to overcome challenges and ensure the smooth operation of the maritime sector. As a South African Maritime Safety Authority, we share this responsibility. We pay tribute to all the seafarers that have been injured, lost their lives at sea, or have been suffering from trauma because of their service.”

Captain Brynn Adamson, TNPA Harbour Master at the port of Port Elizabeth, also shared a message of support to the contribution of seafarers towards their safety and wellbeing.

“As TNPA, the custodian of all the ports in South Africa, we take the role of embedding safety not only in marine operations exceptionally seriously, but also, ensuring that safety is cascaded to our tenants, port users, vessel masters, terminal operators, through our licenses, lease arrangements, incident management procedures.

“As one of the largest employers of seafarers in South Africa, TNPA pledges and reaffirms to the safety and most importantly, the well-being of seafarers that visit our 8 ports and all seafarers calling our shores. We take this opportunity to recognise the contribution that all seafarers make in our daily lives.”

Lending support to the focus of sentiment on the day, on behalf of government, Mr Ntuli of the DoT highlighted the government’s efforts in creating employment opportunities for seafarers in the country, outlining the plans that are in place.

“We have advocated for a homegrown ship as well as increase flagging to assist our seafarers to access high employment opportunities. The Merchant Shipping Act which is under reconstruction in a form of a Merchant Shipping Bill will introduce coastal shipping for the country and its regions which will promote also employment, skills and development,” said Mr Ntuli.

Meanwhile, as has become standard practice by the DoT and SAMSA during celebration of the Day of the Seafarer annually, pupils in grades 10 to 12 from about 12 schools in the KwaZulu Natal province partook in the event, as were exhibitors such as the South African Police Service (SAPS), African Marine Solutions (AMSOL), Moses Kotane Institute (MKI), Durban University of Technology (DUT), Ports Regulator of South Africa (PRSA), Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA), and KZN Department of Transport.

The event also encompassed a panel discussion on various subjects such as safety and wellbeing (psychological, emotional, and physical health) of seafarers as well as the advancement of technology, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) on whether it has an impact on job security of seafarers.

The panel discussion was led by Capt. Tshepo Motloutsi, a senior manager for maritime policy at SAMSA’s Centre of Policy, Legal and Regulation, in which participants include Mr Michael Manqele, lecturer at Durban University of Technology (DUT), Cap. Rodrego Thompson, a ship surveyor at SAMSA, Reverend Forbes Maupa from the Durban Seafarer Mission, Ms Tracy Myeza, Chief Engineer of Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) tugs, and Ms Zama Mkhize, Tug Master at TNPA.

For more visuals of the event, a large portion of which was livestreamed, please click on the following SAMSA Facebook posts links in succession.

https://web.facebook.com/share/v/2bcCkbXfjmpnHaEv

https://web.facebook.com/share/v/aWmjWCwRsM34yBxQ

https://web.facebook.com/share/v/TKSUhABSQUesP6hD

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.

Relaunched WOMESA South Africa Chapter has no more time to lose – commits new leadership.

Gqeberha: 05 June 2023

New leadership of the South Africa chapter of the Women in the Maritime in Eastern and Southern Africa (WOMESA) has committed to hitting the ground running to ensure that development of country’s women in the maritime sector do not only make up for lost time but also stay abreast of new trends globally.

This is according to Ms Phyllis Difeto, the new chairperson of the eight (8) member WOMESA South Africa Chapter leadership elected during the relaunch of the structure in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape on Wednesday, 31 May 2023 following a few years of inactivity.

Among those who attended the two day event in Nelson Mandela Bay to lend support to the resuscitation of the domestic WOMESA chapter were Minister of Transport, Ms Sindisiwe Chikunga along with representatives of various public and private maritime sector business institutions, the Eastern Cape government as well as the Nelson Mandela Bay local government.

In her address of the event on Tuesday, attended by about 150 women in the maritime sector from across the country, Ms Chikunga urged that the election of the new all-women WOMESA South Africa chapter leadership should be premised primarily on development priorities for women in maritime, rather than on personalities; mindful of both a groundswell of support it can bank on across the region, but also of pockets of re-emerging blatant resistance in South Africa to multiracialism, transformation, and equitable development of all the country’s people.

For Ms Chikunga’s full remarks, click on the video below

WOMESA, an eastern and southern African structure now with membership in 25 countries and chapters in 13 of these, was founded in 2007 initially involving five (5) countries, among them South Africa. However, the domestic chapter collapsed and remain inoperational for a number of years, in the process, undermining women in maritime developmental efforts, but especially in South Africa.

According to Ms Difeto in an exclusive interview, that situation will have to change, fast, through among other things; ensuring a functional, attentive and focussed structure living up to its constituency’s expectations and aspirations.

“We can no longer make excuses for our failures,” she said, while describing her election to lead the revived WOMESA chapter as both humbling, and reflective of faith and trust the country’s women in the maritime sector have in her.

For her full remarks, click on the video below.

The relaunch of the WOMESA South Africa chapter in Gqeberha also had the blessing of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) which, in a brief message, committed itself to render such support as may be needed from time to time.

For IMO Africa representative, Mr William Azuh’s message – delivered on his behalf by Ms Nokuzola Nkowane, Acting CEO of Ports Regular South Africa – click on the video below.

Various other organisations including WOMESA’s executive based in Mombasa, Kenya; the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA), the Eastern Cape government, Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA), South African International Maritime Institute (SAIMI), AMSOL, Heron-Marine, and WISTA also expressed their support of the initiative.

Below are some of their statements as delivered by assigned representatives.

Mr Ndzimeni Ramugondo. Acting CEO. SAMSA
Mr Rufus Lekala. Chief Harbour Master. TNPA
Mr Odwa Mtati. CEO, SAIMI
Ms Mpumi Dweba-Kwetana. Harbour Master. TNPA Durban
Ms Nokuzola Nkowane. Acting CEO. Ports Regular South Africa and newly elected deputy chairperson of WOMESA South Africa Chapter.

This blog further sat down with SAMSA Chief Information Officer (CIO) Mr Ndzimeni Ramugondo and whose six (6) months term as the entity’s Acting CEO ended on Wednesday last week, to establish the significance and importance of the rescucitation of the WOMESA South Africa Chapter from the Transport Department agency’s perspective.

End

South Africa’s budding maritime business chamber formation a vital intervention; industry sector players

Pretoria: 21 July 2022

Current ongoing efforts towards broadening involvement and engagement of business of all sizes in South Africa’s maritime economic sector through a representative national business chamber have received a nod from a number of keyrole players in the sector, among them diverse national institutions as well as industry sector principals.

This emerged this past week during a three (3) days strategy planning session of the budding Maritime Business Chamber (MBC) previously the Eastern Maritime Business Chamber – held at the St Francis Bay Conference Centre in the Eastern Cape province and attended or actively addressed in person or virtually by representatives of several national institutions and businesses across the private and public sectors, including financial institutions.

From the public sector, these included the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA), the South African International Maritime Institute (SAIMI), Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA), the KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board Maritime Centre of Excellence, and the Nelson Mandela Metropolitican Municipality (NMBM).

Financial institutions included the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) and Absa Bank while private sector institutions included FishSA as well as individual company representatives, among them CEO of Algoa Bay based bunkering services firm, Heron Marine SA, Ms Kgomotso Selokane; and Commander Tsietsi Mokhele, group executive of Johannesburg based maritime sector consulting firm, Elekhom Global.

Some of the institutional and business representatives physically present during the Maritime Business Chamber three days strategy workshop in St Francis Bay, Eastern Cape on Monday to Wednesday, 11-13 July 2022. Top Left: Mr Vusi September, SAMSA Head of Corporate Affairs. Top Centre Ms Kgomotso Selokane, CEO of Heron Marine SA. Top Right : Mr Khaya Mti of Absa Bank and Bottom right: Mr Xola Mkhontwana of Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) and Bottom Left: Mr Vincent Zulu of KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board Maritime Centre of Excellence. Three others at DBSA, FishSA and Elekhom participated virtually online

The event hosts, the MBC are an upsized version of a small business chamber that started off in Gqeberha (a.k.a Port Elizabeth) in Algoa Bay in 2019 as a small, micro and medium entreprises (SMME) organisation with express interest in involvement and engagement for business and other economic opportunities identification and exploration in the region’s maritime economic sector.

Maritime Business Chamber chairperson, Mr Unathi Sonti

According to MBC chairperson, Mr Unathi Sonti last Tuesday in St Francis Bay, through ongoing intense and expansive interaction with various stakeholders in South Africa’s maritime sector mostly across the four coastal provinces (KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Western Cape and Northern Cape), a “clear gap” was identified for an institution of the nature operating at national level, in order to advance the interests of those people and businesses with direct interest but without any formal representation in the sector.

According to Mr Sonti, such business chamber with precise focus on the maritime sector was also vital in terms of the national interest of the country.

The feedback over the past two years culminated in last week’s three days’ strategy session workshop as a formal step towards formal expansion of the maritime business chamber countrywide, he explained. For his full views on the subject, click on the video below.

Mr Unathi Sonti, chairperson of Maritime Business Chamber chatting about the development of a national business chamber for the maritime sector in South Africa

Meanwhile, all the companies and institutions represented at the event at St Francis Bay on Monday to Wednesday last week, expressed a common agreement in terms of their full support of both the idea of a business maritime chamber, as well as the expanse of its reach, domestically and abroad.

In the next three videos below, this blog chatted to at least two of the representatives of five key public sector maritime focused institutions present; SAMSA’s Head for Corporate Affairs and Acting Chief Operations Officer, Mr Vusi September; and SAIMI’s Mr Malwande Nkalitshana.

Mr Vusi September, SAMSA Head for Corporate Affairs and acting Chief Operations Officer; sharing the agency viewpoint on its support for the formation of a national maritime business chamber.
Mr Malwande Nkalitshana of the South African Internaitonal Maritime Institute (SAIMI) also weighing on why a national maritime business chamber matters.

From a private sector business perspective, Ms Selokane, CEO of Heron Marine SA also shared her views.

Ms Kgomotso Selokane. CEO of bunkering services firm Heron Marine SA and patron of the Maritime Business Chamber also sharing her own perspective of the importance of such a structure within context of South Africa’s broad economy and people’s interests

End

Bunkering back in business in Algoa Bay as oil spill clean-up comes to an end: SAMSA

Bunkering services back in business in Algoa Bay, announces oil spill incident management authorities (SAMSA File Photo)

Pretoria: 14 June 2022

The clean up of an oil spill recently in Algoa Bay on South Africa’s eastern (Indian Ocean) seaboard has formally been concluded, with bunkering services (ship-to-ship fuel transfers) back in business, authorities responsible for the incident management – among them being the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) – announced in Pretoria on Monday.

“The oil spill clean-up in Algoa Bay has concluded and the incident has been closed and response and monitoring will return to normal status,” read a statement issued jointly by SAMSA, the Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Environment (DFFE) and Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA).

This came almost a week after the lifting of a suspension imposed on bunkering services in the ocean space area following to an incident of an oil spill between two vessels belonging to the same bunkering services company while transferring oil between them on Monday, 23 May 2022.

According to the oil spill incident management authorities, the cause of the oil spill is still being investigated.

Meanwhile, they said: “The conclusion (of the clean-up) follows days of monitoring of the St Croix Island group by the SANPARKS rangers following an oil spill on Monday, 23 May 2022. The last monitoring exercise was done on Thursday, 09 June 2022 and there were no oiled birds reported. The beaches that form part of the Addo Marine Reserve have also been inspected with no reports of oil or oiled wildlife.

“Both vessels have been cleaned and returned to service. A debrief has been concluded with the responders to assess how the response can be improved in the future. An investigation into the course of the spillage is ongoing by the Authorities.”

End

Oil spill incident vessels separated as mop up continues in Algoa Bay

Photo supplied

Pretoria: 27 May 2022

Two oil tankers involved in an oil spill incident at Algoa Bay on South Africa’s eastern seaboard near Ngqurha have been finally separated, a few days after accidentally spilling oil at sea what conducting a ship-to-ship transfer about midday on Monday this week.

Incident management authorities, the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA), Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) and the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE) said in a joint statement on Thursday afternoon that the cause of the oil spill was still under investigation.

Photo supplied

Initially, the two vessels were kept side-to-side since the incident, in order to contain the spillage in their location, said the authorities. Now, with much of the oil around them collected from the waters, the authorities released the smaller tanker to sail back to the port of Port Elizabeth while the bigger one remained anchored offshore awaiting a berth at the port.

SAMSA, DFFE and Transnet said on Thursday: ” The investigation into the cause of the oil spill on Monday in Algoa Bay is continuing. The clean-up and recovery of the spilled oil continued this morning (Thursday 26 May), (with) the recovery teams also continu(ing) with the aerial surveillance, using a drone and oil recovery boats.

“The two (2) vessels involved were separated yesterday (25 May 2022) and the smaller vessel MT Lefkas has berthed at the port of Port Elizabeth and all the oiled equipment has been removed from the water thus posing no pollution threat to the port and its operations. The motor tanker Umnenga II is not able to enter port yet due to the unavailability of a suitable berth,” said.

According to the authorities, “None of the oil has reached the beaches. Most of the oil was cleaned and there is no oil sheen visible on the waters.

They further indicated that boat patrols by SANParks “revealed no oil near the Algoa Bay Islands and no oiled birds were spotted.”

That nowithstanding, they urged members of the public to report oiled birds and wildlife to SANPARKS or SANCCOB Gqeberha at Cape Recife Nature Reserve on 063 942 4702, “but not to approach or try to capture the affected wildlife. Rangers will continue to monitor the Islands for oiled birds retuning from their feeding grounds in Algoa Bay.”

Meanwhile, their surveillance of the coastal areas as well as the ocean adjacent the oil spill incident was continuing.

“A fixed wing aircraft with the state-of-the-art oil sensing equipment has been charted from Cape Town to conduct a full search for any oil over the entire Algoa Bay area. The aircraft will use high-definition cameras and oil detection systems to complete a full aerial surveillance of the Algoa Bay area.

“If there is any oil spotted the aircraft will also complete live oil spill modelling to determine the direction of oil, however the authorities are optimistic that most of the oil has been recovered and only the vessel hull cleaning needs to be completed. The Environmental Protection Vessel , the Sarah Baartman is on standby in Algoa Bay to assist with the clean-up operations,” they said.

They further confirmed that bunkering operations remain suspended.

End

Ship-to-ship oil transfers remain suspended in Algoa Bay, South Africa; as IMOrg ratchets up oil spill incident management: SAMSA

SAMSA File Photo: South Africa’s off-shore bunkering zone in Algoa Bay on the Indian Ocean near Nelson Mandela Bay.

Pretoria: 25 May 2022

Off shore bunkering services, otherwise known as ship-to-ship oil/fuel transfers remain suspended in Algoa Bay near Ngqurha (a.k.a Port Elizabeth) on South Africa’s eastern seaboard as a national incident management structure strengthens its grip on containment measures of an oil spill at sea that occurred at midday on Monday.

This is according to a joint statement by the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA), the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE) and Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) in Pretoria just after lunch hour on Wednesday, this following several measures undertaken to contain the oil spill – including an aerial surveillance of the coastal region to be carried out twice a day until such time that the authorities are satisfied it is no longer necessary.

According to the parties, the oil spill in the ocean occurred while two tanker vessels belonging to the same bunkering services firm, Minerva, were conducting an oil transfer at about midday on Monday. It had not yet been established what led to the incident, they said.

On being alerted, however, according to the authorities; the country’s oil spill incident management structure immediately launched an oil spill containment and extraction process in place, which included a suspension of ship-to-ship transfers in the period until further notice.

In the statement on Wednesday, said SAMSA/DFFE and TNPA: “Five oil recovery boats are being used to collect the oil and by Tuesday afternoon all the visible heavy oil had been collected while large patches of light oil sheen were spotted in Algoa Bay.

“A helicopter was used for aerial surveillance and to assist in directing the boats towards the oil sheen for collection. However due to rough sea conditions, the oil recovery was suspended by 15:35. The removal of the oil (soaked) “oil absorbent material” between the two vessels continued throughout the night. 

“Aerial surveillance has been increased to two flights per day from today (Wednesday) with a vessel launched (with a) small drone assisting with the clean-up operations and continuous aerial surveillance in the immediate area around the vessel.

“The DFFE offshore patrol vessel Sarah Baartman will arrive in Algoa Bay tonight and will be available to assist with clean-up operations if need be,” they said.

With regards the expanse of the oil spread on the ocean area affected, the authorities said: “Oil spill modelling provided by the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation (ITOPF) indicates that the oil will not impact the Swartkops River nor (Nelson Mandela Bay) Metro beaches, but will drift eastward towards the beaches of Woody Cape. Beach inspections were carried out on Tuesday and will continue today.”

On fears about the oil soaking wild sea birds in the area; the authorities said in the statement that: “No oiled birds or wildlife have been spotted so far. However, members of the public are requested to report such (sightings) to SANPARKS or SANCCOB Gqeberha at Cape Recife Nature Reserve on 063 942 4702, but not to approach or try to capture the affected wildlife.

Concerning the immediate fate of the two tankers involved in the oil spill incident, the authorities said the vessels were still alongside each other on location of the incident while a decision was being made on how best to further handle them.

SAMSA File Photo: Oil tanker, Umnenga 1 alongside one of its sister ship-to-ship oil transfer tankers at the port of Ngqurha in Nelson Mandela Bay. 2018

They said: “Although the two tankers are still alongside each other as a preventative measure, the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA), Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) and the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment are evaluating whether it is safe to bring the bunker tanker, MT Lefkas into port today while the motor tanker Umnenga II remain offshore in the bay until a berth is available in the Port of Ngqura.  Both tankers are operated by Minerva Bunkering. The exact quantity of oil spilt is still under investigation.

Occurring just 10 days after the country’s multisectoral Interim Incident Management Organisation (IMOrg) under the Department of Transport (DoT) conducted a five day training and live mock oil spillage management exercise near Robben Island, Western Cape, from May 9-13; SAMSA, DFFE and Transnet said Wednesday the unfortunate incident at Algoa Bay this week could not be more appropriately timed as the country was now properly prepared to handle incidents of the nature.

They said: “It is fortunate that the last full-scale joint industry-government oil spill response deployment exercise was held in Cape Town on 12-13 May where the National Oil Spill Response Plan was tried and tested.

SAMSA FILE PHOTO: Some of South Africa’s multisectoral Incident Management Organisation (IMOrg) members with their oil spill containment, extraction and disperal as well as personnel rescue support vessels during a mock oil spill exercise conducted over two days on the coastal corridor between Cape Town and Robben Island on 12-13 May 2022.

“This exercise helped considerably to ensure that the response for the spill in Algoa Bay was managed in the best possible manner and allowed for the quick deployment of resources to contain the spread of the oil and oil spill modelling. An investigation has commenced to ascertain the cause of the spillage. Bunkering operations remains suspended in Algoa Bay.”

End

Oil spill incident in Algoa Bay under investigation: SAMSA

Captain Vernon Keller, SAMSA deputy Chief Operations Officer, reporting on the oil spillage incident in Algoa Bay on Tuesday morning

Pretoria: 24 May 2022

The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) says it will launch an investigation into an oil spillage incident that occurred on Monday in Algoa Bay near the port of Ngqurha on the eastern seaboard of South Africa.

According to SAMSA, the oil spillage incident occurred during a bunkering service or ‘ship-to-ship’ oil transfer, at about midday on Monday.

The extent of the oil spillage could not be immediately determined, however said SAMSA, the country’s oceans oil spillage incident management structure had been mobilised and had begun on Monday to try and contain the spread of the oil.

Initially deployed by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE) are two anti-pollution craft vessels to assist with containment of the spill, as well patrol boats by South African National Parks (SANParks) along the coastline.

Meanwhile, all bunkering operations were suspended to ensure proper coordination of the spill’s containment effort’s effectiveness and efficiencies.

SAMSA File photo

In a brief statement in Pretoria on Tuesday, said SAMSA: “The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) has initiated all relevant oil spill response teams as per the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan to assist with the containment and cleanup operation following an oil spill In Algoa Bay yesterday.

“The oil spill occurred on the 23rd (Monday) at around midday during a ship-to-ship transfer of oil. All the relevant pollution response units have been activated, and booms deployed to contain the oil around the vessels.

“The collecting of oil continued throughout the night last night (23 May). The 2 vessels will remain attached to help with the containment of the oil. All relevant authorities including the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE) and are supporting the response where possible,” said SAMSA.

Regarding the threat to wild sea birds in the area, SAMSA confirmed that the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) was already on a “high state of readiness to receive oiled birds,” and urged the public to to report any oiled wildlife to SANPARKS.

SAMSA further reported that shortly after the incident was report to authorities; “SAMSA officials boarded the vessels to inspect the extent of the spill.

In addition, SAMSA would further conduct an aerial survey of the coastal area on Tuesday morning and further information would be shared with the public periodically.

End