MOROCCO: Morocco's port management company Marsa Maroc has signed a €65 million financing agreement with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to fund projects aimed at expanding capacity and optimising operations at its multipurpose terminals in the ports of Casablanca and Jorf Lasfar.

MAURITIUS: Some 100 fishers received certificates this week after completing the General Course for Fishers at the Mauritius Maritime Training Academy, in Pointe-aux-Sables.

Unathi Sonti, Executive Chairperson of the Maritime Business Chamber returned from the  7^th Conference of the Association of African Maritime Administrators (AAMA) that was held in Tanzania at the end of November with an update on some of the resolutions taken by the maritime authorities across the continent.

KENYA: Speaking at the country’s Navy’s 60^th anniversary, Kenya’s President William Ruto committed to increasing support for the force through investment in advanced technologies and modernisation of the fleet.

SOUTH AFRICA: The 100.7m tanker, Uhambo, was officially welcomed as African Marine Solutions’ (AMSOL) 14^th vessel to join the South African ships registry this week at a ceremony held in the Port of Durban on Monday.

Chaired by Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, the inaugural meeting of the International Advisory Body on Submarine Cable Resilience brought together 40 leaders and experts to collaborate to improve the resilience of submarine telecommunciation cable systems.

LIBERIA: Concluding today, the 15th session of the Conference of Ministers of the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC) has provided the six member states with the opportunity to harmonise policy and identify actions to preserve fisheries stocks as well as develop aquaculture in the region.

Dear Captain Lekala

I think I can speak on behalf of many in the South African maritime industry when I say we are looking forward to seeing a permanent CEO take up position at the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA). When the cabinet announced your appointment in September, however, I had hoped you would join earlier than the now anticipated April start date.