Transport News
TNPA to redevelop Port Precinct in Durban
Plans by Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) to redevelop the Point Precinct in the Port of Durban in support of the Kwazulu-Natal Port Master Plan have actually gotten much-needed incentive, the entity says in a statement. Included in this development is the expansion of the Point Automotive Terminal, which has exceeded its landside capability, and the development of the Point Container Terminal to position the port as a competitive container center port.
PRASA to investigate chair after he moved into agency’s luxury home
The board of the Passenger Rail Agency of SA has instituted an internal query into its chair Leonard Ramatlakane following a report that he moved his family into a luxury house coming from the State-owned business. The Sunday Times reported at the weekend that Ramatlakane moved into your house in Newlands, Cape Town due to the fact that his own house was going through remodellings, and he wound up hosting a 70th birthday party there. According to the report, the house is meant to be utilized by its officers on work trips, to prevent hotel costs. PRASA recently spent R2.5-million on upgrading the house. PRASA told the Sunday Times that he was renting the house with a lease legitimate from December to February, however that this was later on encompassed March. The agency then stated in a statement on Thursday that its board had an urgent conference in the week and "" after much consideration, the board resolved to refer the accusations for an internal query, in line with suitable PRASA policies and the law."".
Airlink now has international marketing and sales representation on all five continents
South African regional airline company Airlink now has representation in markets in North America and Asia. This follows its appointment of Germany-based worldwide air travel, tourist, food, hospitality and beverage brands communications business AVIAREPS as its General Sales Agent (GSA) in these markets. “North America is a substantial source market, not just for Airlink, however for services, business owners, and leisure travellers,” discussed Airlink Executive Manager: Sales & & Marketing Carla da Silva. “Economic activity between South Africa and North America is increasing, consisting of trade, commerce and tourism. Similarly, with Asia resuming we expect a surge in need as re-emerges as another important market for Airlink and the services and communities we serve.”
Intercape approaches High Court yet again for protection in the Eastern Cape
Following numerous appeals to national government to act against a scourge of violence and intimidation against Intercape in recent years, the long-distance coach company has now called on newly appointed Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga to urgently intervene. This follows a renewed attack on the bus operator by taxi operators.
Public Enterprises Ministry to ‘cease to exist’ on formation of SOE holding company
President Cyril Ramaphosa has validated that the position of Public Enterprises Minister and the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) will “disappear” once a brand-new holding business for tactical State-owned enterprises (SOEs) has been produced. Appearing in Parliament to respond to questions postured by members of the National Assembly on Thursday, Ramaphosa said that federal government planned adopting the suggestion of the Presidential SOE Council that a State-owned holding business be developed to house strategic SOEs and to work out coordinated investor oversight.
Manufacturer focused on anti-theft, -vandalism signalling equipment
The avoidance of vandalism and theft of rail infrastructure continues to be a significant cash pit for the South African passenger and freight rail industry. State-owned entity Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) spends R1-billion a year to secure its facilities from vandalism, then group CEO David Mphelo told Parliament in June last year..
Third-party access crucial for sector
Rail industry representative African Rail Industry Association (ARIA) is driven by a mandate to facilitate public–private partnerships (PPPs) as a tool to revitalise the South African rail industry, with CEO Mesela Kope-Nhlapo declaring 2023 the year of third-party access. “It is in the country’s best interest to successfully advocate for the practical implementation of the third-party access rail policy to service the unserved market that previously benefited from our railways,” Kope-Nhlapo tells Engineering News.
Bolt to invest €500m in Africa in next two years
Mobility app Bolt says it will invest EUR500-million in its African operations over the next 2 years. The funds will be used to expand the business’s services in Africa and to create opportunities for more than 300 000 brand-new drivers and carriers to sign up with the platform in 2023..
Global air passenger traffic continued very healthy recovery in January
Worldwide, air passenger traffic continued its strong recovery, from the results of the Covid-19 pandemic, in January, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has actually reported. IATA is the representative body for the international airline company industry. In year-on-year (year-on-year) terms, overall air passenger traffic in January was up by 67%. It reached 84.2% of its levels in January 2019 (that is, pre-pandemic). International guest traffic in January jumped 104%, year-on-year, and reached 77% of its January 2019 levels. Domestic traffic increased 32.7% year-on-year in January, nearly totally recuperating to pre-Covid levels, as it concerned 97.4% of January 2019 traffic.
Sanral to undertake blasting on the N3 on March 14
The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) says it will carry out blasting to remove rock outcrops near the Camperdown Overpass bridge at 14:00 on Tuesday March 14 for the construction of the stormwater system, as well as pavement layers. This forms part of the ongoing N3 upgrades from the Cato Ridge Interchange to the northern end of the Dardanelles Cutting.
Zero-emissions aviation company reports record-breaking fuel cell performance tests
UK-US zero-emission air travel innovation company ZeroAvia has announced that early tests of its High Temperature Proton Exchange Membrane (HTPEM) fuel cell systems delivered performances that were record-breaking. The tests were conducted at the business’s UK research and development (R&& D) site and involved its 20 kW HTPEM stack power module. This attained a record specific power of 2.5 kW/kg at the cell level. This opened the way to the company reaching 3+ kW/kg system level densities within the …
IATA reports challenging conditions for global air cargo in January
The worldwide representative body for the airline company market, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), has actually reported that the worldwide air freight sector had a “soft” beginning to this year. In year-on-year (year-on-year) terms, overall air freight need in January was down 14.9%, while international need fell 16.2%. Overall air freight capacity, however, rose by 3.9%, the first year-on-year capacity increase because October last year. International capability increased by 1.4%. “With January freight …
AfriForum asks High Court to compel Transnet to share information on contracts, assets
Civil rights organisation AfriForum has actually submitted a formal Promotion of Access to Information application to the Gauteng High Court, asking for State-owned freight utility Transnet to offer info on some of its operations. The organisation is seeking openness from the entity on all active contracts that Transnet or its subsidiaries have concluded with any logistics or freight companies, in addition to those with personal security companies, and a list of all train engines, coaches and wagons that Transnet owns.
Africa Mercy hospital ship to dock at Dormac Durban for repairs, maintenance
The medical facility ship Africa Mercy will dock at marine engineering business Dormac, in Durban, for repair work and maintenance to extend its service life. The Africa Mercy is sailing in from Senegal and will remain in South Africa throughout the rest of this year. It plans to call in at East London before moving into active service once again next year.
IATA reports improved overall commercial aviation safety last year
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) on Tuesday released its Airline Safety Performance 2022 report. In almost all respects, last year had been more secure for airline operations than the year before (2021) in addition to much better than the average for the five-year duration 2018-2022. (The IATA data left out accidents involving executive airplane, airplane not powered by turbine engines, and aircraft with a maximum liftoff weight of less than 5 700 kg.) In absolute numbers, there were …
Growthpoint acquires KZN logistics asset
JSE-listed Growthpoint Properties has acquired a 13 870 m2 prime logistics property in Keystone Park in Hammarsdale, KwaZulu-Natal, for R136-million, furthering the rebalancing of its sizable industrial property portfolio. Featuring efficient, modern, new-build specifications, Growthpoint’s latest industrial asset is let to specialised food packaging provider, Malda Pack, and butchery supplier, Exim International. The property transferred to Growthpoint in late December.
Cape Town wants new transport minister to fast-track rail devolution
Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis states he composed new Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga today asking her to fast-track rail devolution “as a top priority”. Chikunga’s consultation follows a Cabinet reshuffle, with former Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula now ANC secretary-general.
IATA warns of consequences of incomplete application of new EU air cargo security measure
Despite having had some four years to prepare, no fewer than 12 European Union (EU) countries were not ready when the EU’s new air cargo security augmentation initiative, the Pre-Loading Advance Cargo Information (PLACI) system, went live on March 1. Further, these countries – Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, France, Greece, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania and Sweden – have not given definitive timelines for when they would be ready to implement PLACI. The representative body of the global airline industry, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), has called for urgent action to address the supply chain problems this incomplete implementation of PLACI was threatening. The association pointed out that the 12 non-compliant States contained some of the EU’s main cargo hub airports.
Kenya Airways highlights its anti-human-trafficking policy and launches awareness campaign
Kenya Airways, the nationwide flag carrier for the East African country, on Monday launched a public awareness and outreach campaign against human trafficking and highlighted its own “Trafficking personallies” (TIPS) policy. Both the TIPS and the general public awareness campaign were established in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs & & Crime (UNODC). The airline company’s TIPS policy entered into effect in January and the public awareness project was directed at both airline personnel and the larger …
Isuzu retains top truck selling position for tenth year, looks to expand diesel alternatives Isuzu Trucks revenue generation senior VP Craig Uren gives insight into the company’s future plans. Video and editing: Shadwyn Dickinson.
Commercial vehicle maker Isuzu Truck, which is commemorating a tenth successive year as the truck market leader, is progressing with strategies to present newer and more environment-friendly truck drivetrain options. According to the most recent report by naamsa|The Automotive Business Council, Isuzu Truck tape-recorded sales of 30 153 systems of business cars (including vans and buses) in 2022– an increase of 11.4% year-on-year, with Isuzu’s growth at 4.7%.