From the editor . . .

President Thabo Mbeki was amongst 41 African leaders who recently signed the Beijing Declaration, an agreement that "deepens the strategic partnership" with China. Billed as an ""unprecedented diplomatic manoeuvre", the declaration called for reform of the United Nations and a permanent seat for Africa in the Security Council.

At the China-Africa summit, Chinese companies signed 16 contracts with 11 African nations to buy minerals and build infrastructure. The deals are worth USD1.9Bn. Some of this comes our way. The Chinese parastatal, Sinosteel, has committed to investing in a USD230 million ferrochrome mine and smelter project with South Africa's Samancor. China is targeting specific strategic projects. Citic Group, China's biggest state-run company, will build a USD938 million aluminium smelter in Egypt; China Nonferrous Mining will build a USD200 million copper smelter in Zambia and China Building Material Industry will build a USD55 million cement factory in Cape Verde.

Therefore in the light of the new red dawn for Africa you will read in this issue a fairly lengthly precis of a paper presented to the intelligence community by Professor Renfrew Christie, Dean of Research at the University of the Western Cape. It's his views and it is certainly interesting that the Chinese have been influential on global trade since, it is believed, as early as the 8th Century.

The revival of the South African shipbuilding industry is exciting news. While some readers some time ago were despondent that it didn't seem likely, we bring you the good news that two Durban companies have recently been awarded tenders - Oceanmasters is to build two tugs for the National Ports Authority and Dormac Marine recently had a keel laying ceremony for the new bunker barge to be built for Smit Amandla Marine.

The future lies in technology and while the ship loaders at the iron ore terminal at Saldanha have been giving problems, Bidfreight has commissioned Africa's fastest and largest grain ship unloader at its bulk terminal operations in Durban harbour. The ultra-modern technology, with a discharge rate of 18000 tons a day, will reduce average berth occupancy from 26 days to 10 days per month.

There would also be no future without new generations of mariners emerging. We have some clever young people coming up through the ranks. Now all we need to do is to find them jobs!

As we went to press we heard of the tragedy that had befallen Offshore Maritime Services, one of our regular advertisers. We can only hope and pray that there will be a reasonable explanation for the disappearance of the company's tug, Hawk, and its four-member crew.

In conclusion, this is our last issue for the year and we take this opportunity to wish our readers and advertisers a merry festive season and a prosperous New Year.New

Editor

Cover Stor

Dormac Marine Durban is about to start building a new bunker barge for Smit Amandla Marine. Scheduled for delivery in August 2007, it will meet the new and mandatory IMO regulations calling for double skins on all bunker barges by 2008. This exciting project not only means the re-opening of South Africa's largest shipyard after 15 years but it has also sparked interest from at least three international companies enquiring about Dormac building ships for them in South Africa. Seen here is Pim Zandee (SMIT), Sheila Ngubane (Dormac/Palisa Investments), Paul Maclons (SMIT Amandla Marine), Craig Samuels and Chris Sparg (both Dormac), Front: Artwell Cele (welder - Dormac).