Four of the ten nominees for this year’s People’s Choice Award in the annual International Maritime Rescue Federation Awards (IMRF) represent African countries highlighting the impact that the continent has had in search and rescue over the past year.

THE GAMIBIA: The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights’ (ACHPR) has issued a statement drawing attention to the latest death of almost 25 migrants including children following the sinking of their boat between the archipelago of the Comoros and the island of Mayotte.

SOUTH AFRICA: There was a rather dismal turnout from the maritime industry at this morning’s stakeholder engagement in Cape Town as the South African Maritime Authority (SAMSA) kicked off a series of three sessions aimed at discussing several new pieces of draft regulations.

SOUTH AFRICA: Engaging with maritime stakeholders in Cape Town to discuss a host of new draft regulations, the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) confirmed that they will begin drafting new fishing regulations in 2025 to create a “one stop shop” for the industry.

SOUTH AFRICA: Transnet National Ports Authority’s (TNPA) original strategy for the Island View Precinct (IVP) in the Port of Durban which was released in 2018, concluded that the goal of transformation in the port space could be achieved by appointing new black-owned operators within the precinct.

NIGERIA: The management of Lekki Port LFTZ Enterprise Limited (LPLEL), Lekki Freeport Terminal, and the Lagos Free Zone officially launched the Cosco, One (Ocean Network Express), and Zim alliance services at Lekki Deep Sea Port with the arrival of the EA Centaurus at the Lekki Deep Sea Port last Friday.

NIGERIA: The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) is embarking on a bid to replace more than 90% of the boats on the country’s waterways in a bid to phase out wooden vessels and improve safety.

CÔTE D'IVOIRE: The Port of Abidjan hosted a ceremony to welcome the EA Centaurus, a 272m container vessel with a draft of 14.3 metres and a capacity of 7,000 TEUs.