SOUTH AFRICA: The new Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment has called the ruling by the Supreme Court of Appeal to uphold the ban on the use of drones, bait carrying remote-controlled boats and other remotely operated devices in fishing operations a “significant victory”.

Regional maritime security issues were discussed at the end of June when leaders from Madagascar, Mauritius and Tanzania met with the Combined Task Force (CTF) 150 to establish shared goals.

COTE D’IVOIRE: An initiative to create an African Ports Connectivity Portal, funded by the Beijing-based Multilateral Co-operation Centre for Development Finance (MCDF) aims to improve data collection and connectivity among the continent’s ports.

ANGOLA: Having signed an agreement to undertake their first port development project in Angola some five years ago, Toyota Tsusho Corporation has committed to the delivery of four vessels which will be delivered in the first quarter of 2025.

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.