Without exception, major international maritime and shipping organisations have expressed their disappointment at the outcome of the extraordinary session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) last week which chose to “adjourn” the adoption of draft amendments to MARPOL Annex VI, including the IMO Net-Zero Framework. But just how unexpected was this decision given the increasingly loud statements being made by those claiming climate change to be a hoax that is being perpetuated to the detriment of global economies?

Six African Member States have set their sights on claiming a position on the International Maritime Organisation’s Council in the elections scheduled for December this year, but it is unlikely that all will be successful. Editor, Colleen Jacka, looks at what is at stake.

SOUTH AFRICA: With plans to ultimately expand the newly opened container yard in Salt River to 63,000m², Grindrod Ltd officially cut the ribbon on the United Container Depot (UCD) which will function as a back-of-port facility to help improve Cape Town Port logistics for importers and exporters.

SOUTH AFRICA: Plans to salvage two vessels in Hout Bay over a period of three days have been prolonged by the discovery of an additional unidentified vessel beneath one of the wrecks.

It’s an important week for the maritime industry as the second Extra-ordinary session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee gets underway to discuss the adoption of global regulations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping.

EGYPT: Two locally-built tugboats joined the Suez Canal Authority’s (SCA) fleet as part of the Egypt’s commitment to localise the maritime industry and promote shipbuilding within the South Red Sea Shipyard facilities.

SOUTH AFRICA: A court ruling on Friday has paved the way for Transnet to finalise a contract with International Container Terminal Services, Inc (ICTSI) for a 25-year joint venture with Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) to develop and upgrade the Durban Container Terminal (DCT) Pier 2.

SOUTH AFRICA: “The solution we see here today, the recycling and repurposing of end-of-life fishing gear, provides a glimpse of what a sustainable future can look like. This is how we build resilience in our blue economy, ensuring that economic activity supports environmental protection.”