The Maritime Rescue Coordination Center and vessel managers are prepared to respond to emergencies along the country’s coastline and in its territorial waters, an official has said
South Africa is on high alert for possible vessel diversions around the Cape of Good Hope as turmoil in the Middle East affects shipping routes, Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has said.
Responding to parliamentary questions from ActionSA MP Malebo Kobe, Creecy said there was an increase in maritime traffic in recent months, but it has not translated into a noticeable increase in port calls as of March 25.
“This is attributed to the fact that vessels will only need to make a stop to take bunkers and stores, undertake repairs, and any other marine services required.
”It is worth mentioning that the cargo that was not originally destined for South African ports is highly unlikely to come to our ports, especially the liquid bulk,” Creecy added.
The minister previously indicated that her department was fully prepared for the maritime traffic diversion around the Cape of Good Hope because of disruptions in the Red Sea and the developments in the Middle East.
Kobe asked whether the department has noticed a surge in maritime traffic in recent months, and what revenue opportunities the surge presented for the South African ports, and the challenges experienced. In response, Creecy said the department has not quantified the monetary value from the diverted vessels around the Cape of Good Hope. She also said no identified challenges have been experienced so far.
“The potential challenges for the South African port system as a result of an increase in maritime traffic mean that the department and the South African Maritime Safety Authority must be on high alert and ensure that the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) is well capacitated to ensure that the standby or salvage tug is always available for any eventuality at sea.”
Asked about contingency measures currently in place to enable the South African ports to capitalise on further rerouting of vessels amid the ongoing disruptions to shipping routes in the Middle East, including those affecting the Strait of Hormuz, Creecy stated that the Department of Transport was ready and on high alert. It has contracted vessel uMkhuseli for the prevention of oil pollution and to help vessels in distress.
”The vessel management, in liaison with MRCC, is available and ready to respond to emergencies along the 3,000-kilometre coastline of South Africa’s territorial waters.”
She further said the MRCC remained operational for 24 hours to issue distress alerts to all parties.
”The Department of Transport contracted a pollution prevention tug boat that is ready to assist any vessel in distress, and a special call out to any other vessel along the coastline to provide search and rescue capabilities and support safe navigation when so required, in line with the principles of freedom of navigation and safe passage.
“However, no major vessel diversions within the SA port system have been experienced thus far due to the Middle East conflict and closure of the Strait of Hormuz, according to the live data from the MRCC.”
Creecy also said about six additional vessels have called for bunkers and stores, and only one for cargo operations.
“This shows that there is no significant increase in vessels taking bunker fuels under ship-to-ship bunkering.”
MK Party MP Thalente Khubheka inquired about the assessment done on the potential impact of any sustained disruption to maritime fuel supply routes on the transport and logistics systems. Creecy said the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy is the appropriate authority to assess and provide guidance on whether South Africa maintains sufficient crude oil reserves and strategic fuel stocks to sustain national fuel supply in the event of disruptions to global oil supply chains.
However, she stated that the Cape Sea Route served as an important alternative maritime passage to the Strait of Hormuz, which is typically the shorter route for global oil shipments but remains vulnerable to geopolitical tensions and potential disruptions.
“As vessels divert around the southern tip of Africa, Algoa Bay plays a strategic role by facilitating ship-to-ship bunkering services for vessels transiting along the Cape Sea Route that require refuelling,” she said.
”In addition, all South African ports have bunkering facilities capable of accommodating vessels that require fuel. This activity supports maritime logistics and reinforces South Africa’s position within global energy shipping networks.”
