Ports & Ships Maritime News

Jul 28, 2006
Author: P&S

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TODAY’S BULLETIN OF MARITIME NEWS

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AP Moller-Maersk sailing towards rendezvous with TUI Hapag-Lloyd?

Force majeure declared at Bonny terminal

Uncovering maritime history at Mossel Bay

SAS Isandlwana officially handed over to SA Navy

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AP Moller-Maersk sailing towards rendezvous with TUI Hapag-Lloyd

The most recent takeover involving the Danish shipping giant AP Moller was the Anglo-Dutch P&O Nedlloyd container empire. Now, if the rumour reports prove true, AP Moller-Maersk is intent on acquiring the container shipping interests of its German neighbour, TUI, which trades in the container (and cruise) world as Hapag-Lloyd.

The rumours suggest that consolidation in the container shipping industry is far from over and at least one analyst is pointing out that TUI, a German operator better known as a tourist specialist, has little natural affinity or history with container shipping such as is found in companies like AP Moller, Mediterranean Shipping Company, Evergreen and others where strong family interests are in force.

TUI was most recently in the news following the takeover last year of Anglo-Canadian company CP Ships, which catapaulted TUI Hapag-Lloyd into one of the leading container operators (see our News Report dated 11 October 2005).

Apart from its other holiday interests Hapag-Lloyd operates a large cruise section involving Hapag-Lloyd and Thomson Cruises.


Force majeure declared at Bonny terminal

According to a news report issued by GAC World, Shell has declared a ‘force majeure’ at Bonny Offshore Terminal which became effective from 18.00 on Wednesday, 26 July.

The declaration is a result of a rupture to the crude oil pipeline from Nembe Creek leading to the terminal, which has led to a loss in production of between 180,000 and 200,000 barrels a day.

New acceptance dates for cargo lifting have not yet been announced but information about operations can be obtained from GAC Nigeria – contact a href="mailto:Nigeria@gacworld.com">Nigeria@gacworld.com


Uncovering maritime history at Mossel Bay

More than a little interest is expected next week when Mossel Bay on the South Cape coast – the first landing place on southern African soil of European explorers and a regular watering place for the early mariners, hosts an international conference on maritime archaeology.

About 38 international and local delegates will make presentations and hold workshops over a three day period starting on Sunday, 6 August. Presenters are coming from the Australia, India, the Netherlands, Portugal, UK and USA.

The three-day conference is being organised by the Centre for Portuguese Nautical Studies. Among the lectures will be demonstrations using ancient navigational aids and instruments. The conference and exhibition is being held at the Diaz Strand Hotel and the Diaz Museum complex.

The event includes visits to shipwreck sites along the coast, including that of the Sao Goncalo which sank near Plettenberg Bay in 1630 while en route from the East to Portugal with a cargo of Chinese porcelain.

- source EP Herald


SAS Isandlwana officially handed over to SA Navy

by Edwin Tshivhidzo, BuaNews

Durban, 27 July 2006 - The second of the country's four new patrol frigates, the SAS Isandlwana, was officially handed over yesterday.

Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota received the frigate on behalf of the South African Navy.

Health Deputy Minister Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge who named the ship in Kiel, Germany, in 2002 was also in attendance.

Among those present were the Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini accompanied by the IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi.

The ship is part of government's multi-billion rand strategic arms procurement package approved by Cabinet in 2001.

The frigates were built by the ThyssenKrupp Marine System yards in Hamburg (Blohm + Voss) and Kiel (Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft).

SAS Isandlwana is expected to feature at the Africa Aerospace and Defence 2006 Expo in Cape Town from 20-24 September.

At yesterday's ceremony, Minister Lekota said the defence of the people of South Africa remained the rationale for strengthening, recapitalisation and rejuvenation of the SANDF.

"The young men and women deployed in various parts of the continent are increasingly celebrated as harbingers of stability and development to troubled communities.

"We owe it to them and to those who preceded us that they are highly trained and efficiently equipped to be able to carry out the tasks we entrust to them," he said.

Minister Lekota added that today's commissioning of Isandlwana was therefore about ensuring South Africa's continued state-of-readiness with regard to "anything anytime".

"The South African Navy is ready to engage with, cooperate or compete against the best in the world."

All four frigates have been or are being fitted out in Simon’s Town with weapons and electronic systems.

Their unique stealth characteristics, derived from an innovative shape, are said to make it extremely difficult to locate them using radar.

Their infra-red emission signatures - normally a give-away for ships of this size - have been drastically reduced through an exhaust system which emits the engines' hot fumes at water level rather than through a funnel above deck.

The combat systems have been fully integrated and comprehensively tested onboard, transforming the SAS Isandlwana into one of the most advanced warships in the world today.

Minister Lekota added that the newly acquired ship would be deployed on peace-keeping missions on the continent should there be a need.

"Our role with regard to our broad participation in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN) multilateral peace and security initiatives on and around the continent of Africa will be significantly improved by our rapidly advancing capability on high seas, inland rivers and lakes of several countries on the continent."

The first frigate to be delivered (in 2003) was the SAS Amatola and the installation of a combat suit on the ship was completed last year.

The two remaining frigates are at an advanced stage of completion as far as the installation of combat suits is concerned.

The ships are named after the battles fought in South Africa to commemorate the bravery of those who made a supreme contribution for their country.


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