SOUTH AFRICA: The South African boatbuilding industry has recorded a remarkable 22.3% increase per annum over the past five years and contributed R4.9 billion to the country’s export figures in 2023.

A 10-day sailing trip on the 60m Tall Ship, Eendracht around Cape Verdean islands is planned for 2025 to celebrate the country’s 50 years of independence as well as 75 years of relations between Rotterdam and Cape Verde.

SOUTH AFRICA: Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has signed a long-term contract with South32 Hillside Aluminium ((Pty) Ltd, securing the continued operational presence of South Africa’s only primary aluminium producer at the Port of Richards Bay.

LIBERIA: The Liberia Maritime Authority (LiMA) in collaboration with the National Port Authority (NPA) hosted a five-day workshop to boost Liberia’s oil-spill response preparedness this month to strengthen Liberia’s collaboration with international partners to mitigate environmental risks and enhance national capacity for spill prevention and response.

SOUTH AFRICA: The South African fishing industry has never experienced the incident-free year that it was aiming for since the establishment of the Fishing Vessel Safety Unit and the hosting of the Fishing Safety Indaba by the South African Maritime Safety Authority, but 2024 will stand out as the year that emphasises the need for a more concerted approach to safety within the sector.

OPINION PIECE: Every ship that leaves a shipyard with a substandard water treatment system will pollute the oceans for the next 25 years writes Peter Lanzén, co-founder of Marinfloc as he identifies this hidden crisis that has a devastating impact on our marine ecosystems.

MAURITIUS: An extension of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), aiming to promote sustainable development and address key challenges in the Indian Ocean region, was signed between the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), last week, in Ebène.

SOUTH AFRICA: With boat races, knot tying and luxury yacht cruises on the programme at this year’s boat show in Cape Town this weekend, visitors will have ample opportunity to engage with services, equipment and boats that aim to spark their interest in adopting an ocean lifestyle.