EMEA News
Africa Could See New Bunkering Hot Spots as Ports Race to Become New Regional Shipping Logistics Hubs
Africa could see the emergence of a number of new bunkering hot spots, as ports across the continent vie to become new regional logistics hubs.
"A variety of challenges exist, from structural congestion in African ports located in conurbations with limited road and rail infrastructure, to poor customs procedures, security concerns, poor dredging programmes, and industrial actions," said Victor Shieh, SeaIntel's Editor-in-Chief.
In East Africa, Kenya and Tanzania are said to be in competition to become the region's major port, with Kenya aiming to upgrade its Mombasa port in order to improve efficiency, and Tanzania having begun construction of port in Bagamoyo in October, which is said to be set to become East Africa's largest port - expected to handle double the capacity of the more southern port of Dar es Salaam.
Meanwhile, the West African port of Lome in Togo is reported to have made a number of improvements in both capacity and efficiency that have significantly boosted transhipment traffic in the region over the past year, with the Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A. (MSC) having launched a service of 11 ships in January from the port on a circuit to Asia.
Cameroon is building Central Africa's only deep sea port at Kribi, said to be intended to replace its current major port of Douala, which has been described by local media as being notoriously inefficient.
Further, Gabon is reported to have begun construction in 2013 to improve one of its two major ports, Owendo, adding a new 500 metre quay with a 13 metre draught, set to cater to container ships on one side of the quay and bulk cargo ships on the opposite side.
One supplier looking to take advantage of a growing market in Africa is Aegean Marine Petroleum Network (Aegean) [NYSE:ANW], who last week launched a new bunkering operation in Algoa Bay, near the ports of Port Elizabeth and Coega, South Africa.
