IMO Member States have until the 4 May to apply to become one of up to six countries to participate in a new initiative aimed at eradicating violence and harassment at sea.

NIGERIA: African leaders affirmed their commitment to position African ports as environmentally responsible partners that strengthen competitiveness and efficiency within the transport system during a workshop that highlighted the findings of a continental report aimed at addressing priority areas for operational transformation.

CAMEROON: The UK Government has announced £13 million in Official Development Assistance (ODA) to enable developing economies to participate more effectively in the global trading system and has transferred £1m to the WTO Fisheries Fund.

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.