ESPO award 2020
On 18 September ESPO announced that the projects of Algeciras Port Authority, Port of Amsterdam, Port Authority of Lisbon and Puertos del Estado have been shortlisted for the 12th European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) Award on Social Integration of Ports.
Royal IHC delivers Easydredge 2700 TSHD dredger to Douala Cameroon
Africa Ports & Ships (www.africaports.co.za) reported on 18 September that Cameroon’s Port Authority of Douala (PAD) has taken delivery of its new 2700 cu metre capacity Easydredge from Dutch builder, Royal IHC.
Danish Maritime Authority waters
This summer new shipping routes were established in Skagerrak and Kattegat to create more predictable traffic patterns and separate oncoming ship traffic better. First analysis indicates that the routeing systems work as intended. This was explained in a Danish Maritime Administration (DMA) communiqué of 12 September.
Port of Cork Company appoints new Chief Executive
In mid-September the Port of Cork Company announced that Eoin McGettigan had been appointed to the role of Chief Executive of the company. Eoin replaces Brendan Keating who retired recently after 18 years of service as CEO.
Global Industry Alliance for marine biosafety IMO reports new member joining
Early in September the IMO Media service reported that Hapag-Lloyd AG was the latest entity to join the Global Industry Alliance (GIA) for Marine Biosafety, an initiative launched in June 2020 by the IMO GloFouling Partnerships project. Here the initiative works to promote collaboration with the private sector to address two of the most pressing environmental issues of our time: invasive species and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Joint UN agencies’ statement
Late Friday (11 September) the IMO issued a Joint Statement with other UN entities to urge action on the crew change crisis
In the agreed document all Governments were called upon to immediately recognize seafarers as keyworkers, and to address the humanitarian crisis faced by the shipping sector.
Maritime Security and the impact of the global pandemic IMO virtual meeting
IMO reported earlier this month that 46 participants from 18 countries* took part in a virtual meeting on 26 August to discuss the implementation of the Djibouti Code of Conduct (DCoC)** amid the global pandemic.
This meeting also assessed progress made at the operational level of the DCoC, and the development of its governance framework.
IMO: Talking repatriation and international cooperation during the pandemic
Successful seafarer repatriation procedures have been highlighted as part of an in-depth webinar run by the Embassy of Indonesia in London on 26 August. The event, which gathered representatives from governments and international organizations, provided a platform for countries to learn from effective measures and to discuss ways forward.
UK independent report into risks to shipping published Future provision of Emergency Towing Vessels
An independent review of the risks to shipping within the UK’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) was published on 2 September by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).
This report was initiated from a recommendation by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch to assess the risk to and from shipping in the Dover Strait, following their report into a shipping incident in November 2016.
Port of Long Beach news Essential workers power new record
July marked the busiest month in the 109-year history of the Port of Long Beach as terminal operators and dockworkers moved 753,081 cargo container units, topping a record set two years ago.
Trade increased 21.1% in July compared to the same month in 2019. The previous single-month record of 752,188 twenty-foot-equivalent units (TEUs), set in June 2018, was surpassed by nearly 900 TEUs.
Latest News & Events
On 18 September ESPO announced that the projects of Algeciras Port Authority, Port of Amsterdam, Port Authority of Lisbon and Puertos del Estado have been shortlisted for the 12th European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) Award on Social Integration of Ports.
The jury selected these four applications from a total of seven submissions. The theme of this year’s competition is Enhancing the port-city relationship by encouraging innovators and local start-ups to be part of the port ecosystem.
The ESPO Award 2020 will go to the port managing body that has developed a successful strategy to attract innovation and local start-ups to the port and thus matches supply and demand for innovative solutions for the port and its stakeholders. The winning port will demonstrate to what extent this strategy has led not only to stimulating innovation in the port, but also making the port ecosystem an attractive place for innovative ideas and local young start-up talents.
Pat Cox, Chairman of the ESPO Award Jury commented: ‘In a year of unparalleled challenges facing the transport industry because of the Covid-19 pandemic, our ports have proved again their critical and indispensable role in vital supply chain logistics.
Africa Ports & Ships (www.africaports.co.za) reported on 18 September that Cameroon’s Port Authority of Douala (PAD) has taken delivery of its new 2700 cu metre capacity Easydredge from Dutch builder, Royal IHC.
The Easydredge 2700 joins a Beaver 50 dredge supplied earlier and will be joined by a larger Easydredge 3000 Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger (TSHD) also from Royal IHC.
A new dredging department was created officially in August this year to manage and operate the fleet of dredging equipment under the control of PAD for the port of Douala-Bonabéri.
The port authority says it spent an average of XAF17.16 billion (US$30.8 million) on dredging costs every year.
By having its own dredging department and dredging equipment PAD estimates it will have an annual expenditure of XAF6.7 billion ($12 million) over the next five years.
