SOUTH AFRICA: The controversy surrounding the docking of the Lady R and its cargo came to head with the finalisation of an investigation into the matter which confirmed that sensitive cargo was offloaded “under cover of darkness” so that it could be packaged into containers to mitigate any security risks.

SOUTH AFRICA: Following last week’s Cabinet meeting announcing the appointment of Non-Executive Directors to the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) Board for a period of three years, there is general speculation that this could mean that the process to appoint a permanent Chief Executive Officer for the authority could be back to square one.

SOUTH AFRICA: A conference and awards dinner dedicated to emphasising the contribution of women within the South African maritime sector provided a fitting close to Women’s month in the country by celebrating significant achievements and discussing experiences.

MOROCCO: The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Paul Ignatius (DDG 117) wrapped up participation in a bilateral exercise Atlas Handshake with the Royal Moroccan Navy, this past weekend.

SOUTH AFRICA: Investment in terminal equipment and upgrades as well as capital expenditure in infrastructure and the purchase of a landing craft vessel have proved beneficial for Grindrod Limited (Grindrod), who reported a 26 per cent growth in headline earnings for the first six months of 2023.

SOUTH AFRICA: The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has taken the step to mitigate concerns relating to the ability of the FRV Africana to fulfil her survey obligations over the next five years.

SIERRA LEONE: Having aligned its programme to the Sierra Leone’s healthcare plan, the Global Mercy, the newest Mercy Ship has docked at the Queen Elizabeth II Quay in Freetown to begin a ten-month stopover until June 2024 during which free specialised surgeries will be performed and training for healthcare professionals will be provided.

SOUTH AFRICA: Despite proactively engaging with the City of Cape Town (COCT) to relocate the South African Training Ship General Botha cenotaph from the city centre to a safer location in Simon’s Town, the SATS General Botha Old Boy’s Association’s (GBOBA) concerns for the security of the structure were realised this month when the three bronze plaques were stolen.