African member countries have been urged to immediately take steps towards the ratification of the Manila Amendments to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) Convention to ensure that their seafarers remain internationally competitive. The adoption of the amendments would assist countries bring their training procedure in line with current developments in the industry. Speaking at the opening ceremony of a regional seminar on the familiarisation with the 2010 Manila amendments to the Standards of Training Certification and Watchkeeping Convention and Code in Lagos on Monday, the Minister of Transport, Alhaji Yusuf Suleiman, said there was need to partner with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to ensure the effective implementation of IMO instruments in Africa. He cautioned that it is only through effective understanding and implementation of IMO instruments that shipping could be safe, secure and environmentally friendly, and hinged on human element. '' <Read more>

KENYAN COURT AQUITS SOMALIS OF PIRACY CHARGES
Coming on the heels of recent indication by the Kenya Government not to renew agreements with the United States and Europe allowing for the trial of Somali pirates captured off the Somali coast, a Kenya Court on Friday 5 November 2010 acquitted seventeen Somalis accused of piracy for attacking an Egyptian vessel, the MV Amira on May 13 2009. The men who were arrested in the Gulf of Aden in a joint operation by US and South Korean Navies were the first defendants to be found not guilty under the arrangement whereby Nairobi tries piracy suspects on behalf of foreign governments. <Read more>

CHINESE GROUP BUYS STAKE IN TINCAN ISLAND CONTAINER TERMINAL
Israeli Container Line, Zim Shipping has sold its 47.5 percent stake in Nigeria’s third biggest box terminal, the Tin Can Island Container Terminal (TICT) , to a joint venture arrangement between the Hong Kong-listed port operator China Merchants Holdings (International) and China-Africa Development Fund. The shipping company is expected to raise about US$154million from the deal. The Board of Chinese Merchant Holdings International (CMHI) on 5 November announced the establishment of a joint venture with China Africa Development Fund (CADF) to form a joint venture, Boom Day, on a 60:40 equity basis with the intent of acquiring a stake in a container terminal. <Read more>

AP MOLLER-MAERSK TARGETS US$5BN PROFIT
Improved competitiveness through cost savings has helped the AP Moller-Maersk Group to dream of achieving a US$5billion profit from its operations this year. The shipping and oil group raised its 2010 profit forecast to around $5 billion in a statement issued last week, linking the winning strategy to cost cuts, higher freight rates and oil prices. The upgrade from the previous full-year guidance of more than $4 billion stemmed mainly from higher container shipping rates and efficiency improvements, says Group Chief Executive Nils Smedegaard Andersen. More than half of the improvement in our (container shipping) results came from the cost side Andersen said, adding that freight rates remain below 2008 levels. <Read more>

AGENCY CHECKS TRADE IN USED ELECTRONICS TO NIGERIA
Disturbed by incessant arrest of ships for bringing used electronics and computer wares into the country, shipping lines operating in Nigeria under the aegis of the Shipping Association of Nigeria, have made public their intent not to carry such items until further notice. The group claims that since the beginning of this year ships operated by its members have been subjected to indiscriminate arrests at the Lagos ports by officials of the Nigerian Environmental Standards Regulation and Enforcement Agency (NESREA's) over allegations of trading in used items regarded as toxic or hazardous. <Read more>

TRADE ASSOCIATION CALLS FOR INDIGENIZATION OF FREIGHT FORWARDING
The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents has called for the enactment of a legislation limiting the business of cargo clearance and delivery to Nigerian citizens or Nigerian owned companies. Speaking recently in Abuja, at the one day retreat for its members, ANCLA’s National President, Prince Olayiwola Shittu, said such a move would check capital flight as well as stimulate jobs for thousands of Nigerian youths. Shittu stressed that despite what the general public perceive the customs agents to be, they are critical in the drive by government to meet its target from import tax.<Read more>