SOUTH AFRICA: It is critical that skills training and development keep pace with the speed of technological evolution in the maritime sector, or the sector will be handicapped. This was the message from several speakers during a dedicated Maritime Session at the Southern African Transport Conference held last week. 

THE GAMBIA: The Government of The Gambia and the Gambian Port Authority have signed an agreement with the Turkish Port Operator, Albayrak, to rehabilitate the Port of Banjul and develop a new deep sea port in Sanyang.

SOUTH AFRICA: A New Generation Ultra Large Container Vessel, the CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin, has reported loss of 44 containers overboard having experienced inclement weather off the north-eastern coast of South Africa.

SOUTH AFRICA: Ongoing severe weather conditions that have ravaged the Western Cape this week are not helping the unfolding situation to salvage an abandoned general cargo vessel that is now beached in the remote coastal area of Duiwegat.

WEST AFRICA: A project aimed at promoting the sustainability transition of West and Central Africa ports saw the recent piloting of a benchmarking programme at the Ports of Tema in Ghana and Abidjan in Côte D’Ivoire that prioritises the measurement of waste management, air quality, energy efficiency and coastal erosion.

The International Maritime Organisation is offering support to developing countries who require technical assistance for the creation of National Action Plans to reduce emissions from shipping via the GreenVoyage2050 programme.

SOUTH AFRICA: Speaking at the opening of the Southern African Transport Conference yesterday, the newly appointed Minister of Transport, Barbara Creecy committed to working together with the Minister Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Maropene Ramokgopa, to ensure that Transnet undergoes performance reforms.

The establishment of the African Energy Bank (AEB), which was announced in 2022, took another step forward this week when the African Petroleum Producers’ Organisation (APPO) announced that the institution would be headquartered in Abuja, Nigeria.