A significant milestone was recently reached when the price of oil fetched US$100 a barrel, just under the inflation adjusted all time high of US$101.70. It has since exceeded that. Whilst there are many factors that may influence the price of oil there are strong indications that we may have reached the peak of global oil production. As a result our oil producing nations will be unable to meet or produce enough oil to meet the global growing demand.

The peaking of global oil production and the implications of this is just one of many topics that will be discussed at the third Sub Saharan Oil Africa 2008 conference and exhibition this month.

Scuttlebutts are prolific about the sudden closure of Cape Shiprepair. This has taken the wind out of the sails of ship repairers who have good reason to be feeling blue about their future in the port of Cape Town. Although the media has not being welcomed at industry meetings, I have logged as best I can the developments in the port for the past of five years. Let's just say it is not surprising that the challenges faced by the metals and engineering sector - one of 14 key priority sectors identified for growth, development and job creation and retention - are now being elevated to provincial and national government. Transnet National Port Authority has been mustered to offer an explanation and is assured that there will be the devil to pay if labour proceeds to make life in the port of Cape Town uncomfortable.

Black economic empowerment companies, Smit Amandla Marine and Unicorn Calulo Bunker Services have clinched bunker barge contracts in the port of Durban. In case you haven't fathomed it out yet, the latter is a joint venture deal that was recently concluded between Unicorn and Calulo Services and includes a second entity, Unicorn Calulo Shipping to operate shipping services on the Southern African coast focusing predominantly on the tanker market.

Training is also highlighted in this issue. South African Oil and Gas Alliance is making good progress with a skills development project initiative it implemented four months ago, and a new marine engineering programme which aligns engineering cadet and deck training is being offered by the Cape Peninsula University of Technology.

Beyond our borders, the port of Maputo is stepping up the action and is showing impressive and continuing growth with total traffic in 2007 of 6,7 million tonnes of cargo being handled. Libya is also being promoted as an attractive location for exporting to Europe and other parts of Africa.

The South African Navy recently took possession of its third submarine which will arrive in May and delivery of four new Super Lynx 300 helicopters which will be deployed on board the new Meko A200 Valour Class frigates. This was in good time for the naval operation, Exercise Good Hope III, which concludes this month.

Also coming to an end this month is my service as Editor of SA Shipping News. I am looking forward to putting my feet up for a few weeks with a nice Cup of Joe! It has been a pleasure to meet and get to know you and I sincerely hope I have managed to bring to you an interesting read.
Eight bells and all is well!

PS. Turn to the back page if you don't understand the terminology!

Editor
 

Cover Story

Specialist marine services company SMIT Amandla Marine's tug 'Smit Amandla' pictured towing the semi submersible drilling rig 'Aban Pearl' between East London and Durban recently for client Aban. The tug, on contract to the National Department of Transport as standby tug on the South African coast, took over the tow from the tug 'Singapore', enabling her to take bunkers in Durban. SMIT Amandla Marine employs more than 600 South Africans in its offices and aboard its vessels and is an empowered marine services organisation active in the management of offshore tanker terminals, provision of subsea services, in-port bunker delivery, offshore logistics, ocean and coastal towage, vessel management and environmental protection.