SOUTH AFRICA: The need for collaboration, harmonisation and alignment across Africa’s maritime space once again come under the spotlight throughout last week’s Maritime Forward Africa Conference in Cape Town organised by the Maritime Business Chamber (MBC).

A converted FPSO left Dubai this weekend to take up position at Nigeria’s Okwok field as a key asset to support production in the offshore block. Designed to operate continuously for up to 15 years without drydocking, the vessel is expected to begin production in in the first quarter of next year.

GHANA: A new partnership between Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) and the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) is aiming to see the establishment of a National Hydrographic Office (NHO).

SIERRA LEONE: Senior maritime officials and experts from across West and Central Africa convened in Freetown for the 34th Board of Governors’ Meeting of the Regional Maritime University (RMU), calling for a modernisation of the curriculum and reaffirming their collective commitment to strengthening maritime education, innovation, and cooperation in the region.

SOUTH AFRICA: The Competition Commission has given the green light to Singapore-based Norden Shipping's acquisition of Taylor Maritime's South African dry bulk shipping contracts, finding the transaction poses no substantial threat to market competition or public interest.

Advocate Radia Razack, the Acting DDG: Oceans and Coast in the Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has been elected as Chair of the London Convention and Protocol, the global marine pollution treaty at the International Maritime Organisation.

SOUTH AFRICA: The announcement on social media that the new permanent Chief Executive Officer officially reported for duty at the South African Maritime Safety Authority in Pretoria today was met with widespread enthusiasm from the industry who have been anticipating his arrival since the appointment was finalised by Cabinet recently.

SOUTH AFRICA: The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment’s (DFFE) unusual decision to review the previous Minister’s appeal decisions, which was announced as “unprecedented” in a statement issued on Friday, has been met with mixed responses.