Stranded crew to be paid

A Sri Lankan shipping company that leased Sri Lanka's only cargo vessel, has agreed to pay the disgruntled 26-man crew. The Lankan Mahaphola is currently detained in Durban Harbour over a wage dispute and safety regulations. 31 May 2012 11:04

Lobster market simmering again

According to Cape Business News (CBN), exports markets for lobster appear to be firming, and the lobster market is starting to simmer nicely again, the latest results from Cape Town-based Premier Fishing suggest. Last month, Premier - a large exporter of lobster - reported a R1.1 million profit for the half-year to end February. 30 May 2012 14:07

11 Somali pirates arrested in Puntland police raid

DefenceWeb reports that authorities in Somalia's semi-autonomous region of Puntland said that police have arrested 11 pirates and recovered rifles, a heavy machinegun and a truck. Somali pirate gangs typically seize ships in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden, holding their cargo and crews for ransom. 30 May 2012 13:52

Sri Lanka's only cargo vessel detained in Durban

The Sri Lankan Sunday Times reports that maritime sources said that the Lanka Mahapola, Sri Lanka's only cargo vessel, has been detained at South Africa's Durban Port in for non-payment of wages to the crew. 28 May 2012 12:20

New Moz harbour threatens SA world heritage site

Independent Online reports that South Africa is facing legal action in the high court and censure by the World Heritage Commission in Paris for its apparent failure to safeguard a heritage site from a massive new harbour and industrial complex in southern Mozambique. 25 May 2012 13:41

Move to compel ships plying local ports to fly SA flag

The government is considering the introduction of a policy to compel ships to be registered in SA before they are allowed to move goods between the country's ports - a policy regarded by the shipping industry as protectionist and restrictive. 25 May 2012 11:14

Local shipping industry must consider insurance needs

The number of marine vessel strandings along the South African coastline should serve as a warning to local ship owners who are sending an underinsured or uninsured fleet out to sea. In time this could have a negative impact on the maritime insurance industry, Insurance Times & Investments (ITI) Online says. 24 May 2012 17:11