COMOROS: The islands of Comoros has received a major boost to finance its maritime and port ambitions following the approval of a $135 million package from African Development Bank in support of the Maritime Corridor and Regional Trade Facilitation Project (PACMFCR).

SOUTH AFRICA: Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) officially launched two new launch boats, built in the Sandock Austral Shipyard in Durban yesterday.

SOUTH AFRICA: Salvage efforts to stabilise the wreck of the Ultra Galaxy are ongoing ahead of the issuing of a further tender for a full wreck removal following a directive from the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) to owners.  

CAMEROON: The establishment of an African Union Institute for Blue Economy and Technology was proposed during a consultative workshop funded by the Kingdom of Norway to finalise a strategy to shape a Blue Economy Strategy for Cameroon.

LIBERIA: Commander Norm Witt, a retired member of the US Coast Guard, has been appointed as Vice President, Port State Control Affairs of the Liberian Ship Registry.

SOUTH AFRICA: The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) says that it is confident about attracting another suitable investor after the exit of TotalEnergies from the offshore blocks 11b/12b and 5/6/7.

OPINION PIECE: There has been a lot of talk at international maritime conferences about diversity, equity and inclusion and there are more women in shipping than ever before, but the figures are still too low. Elpi Petraki, President WISTA International asks what is not working.

SOUTH AFRICA: According to a statement issued yesterday by Transnet, work is underway to complete the Memorandum of Incorporation and the Registration of Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA), but no real timelines were provided for the completion of the corporatisation of the authority which is mandated by the National Ports Act.