SOUTH AFRICA: The Western Cape High Court this month kept alive a significant legal claim by two South African fruit terminal companies against Maersk Logistics and Services South Africa and four others where allegations of unlawful competition, the misuse of confidential business information, and the deliberate poaching of key employees to give a new cold-storage operation an unfair head start in the market are being deliberated.

MAURITIUS: Tourists and operators in the sector have been warned that certain interactions with sea turtles that continue to be offered and advertised are prohibited under Mauritian law.

SOUTH AFRICA: Port stakeholders have until Friday to comment on Transnet National Ports Authority’s intention to extend seven leases in the Port of Durban for periods from one to ten years.

SOUTH AFRICA: Researchers at CSIR believe that they will soon be able to broadcast high-resolution sonar images of ocean pipelines, hidden underwater mines, subsea cables and even mineral prospects to the surface faster than ever before.

SOUTH AFRICA: FFS Tank Terminals has been given the greenlight to finance, construct, operate and maintain the liquid bulk terminal in the Port of Cape Town for a period of 25 years following a successful bid for appointment of the terminal which specialises in edible oils and compatible cargo.

SOUTH AFRICA: Efforts to promote South Africa as a destination for superyachts will be bolstered as the V&A Waterfront confirms its intention to invest in a R230 million purpose-built marina that will accommodate eight superyachts and be completed within the year.

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”.