The latest Review of Maritime Transport released last week highlights several bright spots across Africa’s shipping sector with port calls by container increasing by 20% between 2018 and the first half of 2023.

SOUTH AFRICA: Representing an investment of some R150 million, Balancell officially opened their new state-of-the-art Gigafactory in Ndabeni, Cape Town with a ribbon-cutting ceremony by Deputy Minister of Trade Industry and Competition Andrew Whitfield.

REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Illegal fishing, inadequate management frameworks, and a lack of cooperation among national agencies continue to thwart sustainable fisheries governance in the Gulf of Guinea, but a training workshop held this week aimed to enhance the capabilities of environmental officials.

SOUTH AFRICA: EnviroServ has been recognised for its impactful environmental initiatives at the Chemicals and Allied Industries Association (CAIA)’s Responsible Care Awards, held yesterday including their partnership with Zwartkops Conservancy to protect the Swartkops Estuary.

Meeting at a symposium in Cape Town this month, African navies have established a technical working group to investigate the conceptualisation of the Combined Exclusive Maritime Zone of Africa (CEMZA) as envisioned in the African Integrated Maritime Strategy 2050 (AIMS 2050).

SOUTH AFRICA: Turnaround strategies at the Port of Cape Town are not moving fast enough for the agricultural sector in the Western Cape as the apple and pear industry records an estimated R999 million loss annually due to inefficiencies in the port.

SOUTH AFRICA: The South African boatbuilding industry has recorded a remarkable 22.3% increase per annum over the past five years and contributed R4.9 billion to the country’s export figures in 2023.

A 10-day sailing trip on the 60m Tall Ship, Eendracht around Cape Verdean islands is planned for 2025 to celebrate the country’s 50 years of independence as well as 75 years of relations between Rotterdam and Cape Verde.