Over the last two months African organisations and institutions have called on maritime experts to assist in developing research and knowledge across several sectors including fisheries, shipbuilding, environmental management, and port infrastructure needs. These tenders were issued for studies in Kenya, South Africa, Somalia, Mauritius and Egypt.

ANGOLA: After significant ground work and collaboration, the inception of the Southern African Community Development (SADC) Atlantic Project took place Luanda, Angola last month with the goal to support coordinated efforts of Angola, Namibia, and South Africa to mitigate illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and organised crime in the fisheries industry.

SOUTH AFRICA: Despite a challenging environment and subdued market conditions, Grindrod Limited (Grindrod), a JSE-listed freight logistics company, has posted seen a 29% growth in headline earnings to R1.4 billion for the year ending 31 December 2023.

SOUTH AFRICA: A Second Engineer from the Eastern Cape has been chosen as the first bursary student to study for an MSc in Marine Engineering Management through a partnership initiated last year between Business College of Athens (BCA) and the South African Maritime Training Academy (SAMTRA).

SOUTH AFRICA: After a number of significant events in 2023 that negatively impacted the operations and businesses of local Off Port Limits (OPL) operators, discussions highlighted the need for improved cooperation within the sector and the establishment of an industry association that could advocate on behalf of its members.

SOUTH AFRICA: TotalEnergies is set to add weight to its exploration activities in southern Africa through an agreement to acquire participating interests in Block 3B/4B, offshore South Africa.

SOUTH AFRICA: Despite challenges that include ongoing loadshedding, cost inflation and a global oversupply of prawns, the Sea Harvest Group is buoyed by the finalisation of long term fishing rights in the country and as announced a six percent increase in revenue for the year ending 31 December 2023.

SOUTH AFRICA: The blessing of the third Multi-Mission Inshore Patrol Vessel (MMIPV) in Cape Town on Friday last week follows the delivery of the SAS King Sekhukhune I in May 2022 and the commissioning of the SAS King Shaka Zulu in October last year.