SOUTH AFRICA: Speaking at yet another conference aimed at providing a forum to address South Africa’s logistics and freight woes, President Cyril Ramaphosa proposed that a permanent Transport Council be established to “build the partnership” to deliver a vision for a reformed transport sector that includes road, rail, air and oceans. Editor, Colleen Jacka, looks at the content of his speech within the broader context of South Africa’s maritime transport challenges.

SOUTH AFRICA: Echoing his sentiments to boost the country’s exploration and production capacity expressed at last year’s event, Minister Gwede Mantashe returned to this year’s edition of the Southern Africa Oil and Gas Conference in Cape Town where he condemned “the persistent opposition from environmental lobby groups who continue to block every oil and gas development in our country”.

The commissioning of the 40,000 m³ LPG carrier, MT Asharami Ghana last week, officially increases the Sahara Group’s LPG carrier fleet to six vessels with a combined capacity of 202,000 m³.

MAURITIUS: After a productive state visit to Mauritius where he met with the Prime Minister to discuss key areas of collaboration, the President of the Republic of Seychelles stepped on board the vessel, Andromache, in Mauritius where it was participating in the military parade to mark Mauritius National Day celebrations.

LIBERIA: The world’s largest ship registry has announced plans to introduce electronic seafarer documents as part of its commitment to digital innovation and compliance.

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) will hold an emergency Council session next week to address the growing threat to vessels and seafarers in one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints.

SOUTH AFRICA: Alerted by the unusual behaviour of four Chinese fishing vessels, teams from the Fisheries Branch of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment as well as the South African Police Service (SAPS) took action to intercept four Chinese fishing vessels within South Africa’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

SOUTH AFRICA: In a bid to address “decision paralysis”, the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Willie Aucamp has committed to address appeals lodged against several environmental authorisations granted for offshore oil and gas exploration projects.