Cargo Ships Can Run On Biofuel

As one of the preferred providers of chandling services in Cape Town, Saldanha, Port Elizabeth, Coega, Durban and Richards Bay, the Link Ship Chandlers team always has its collective ear to the ground when it comes to the environmental impact of shipping around the globe. Normally, the news is pretty dire, but today we have the privilege of sharing a very prominent ray of hope!

Safer Maritime Sectors Through Drone Use

The use of unmanned drones have become commonplace in industries as varied agriculture and film-making, and have now naturally found a foothold in the maritime industry as well. Here are a few examples of how it is already being used to bolster safety and aid in risk management in ocean-based environments around the world, and a look at how it will likely be employed in future:

New maritime cluster hopes to bring big things to The Cape

The Western Cape of South Africa is poised to benefit from the incorporation of a maritime cluster that is set to develop the existing supply chain throughout the region and bolster the industry from the inside out. The voluntary non-profit is spearheaded by industry heavyweights such as Raizcorp and the WC Department of Economic Development & Tourism. Damen Shipyards, the Royal IHC and even the Kingdom of the Netherlands are lending their support as well. The hope is that more partners will join the cluster in months to come.

Ballinger, Barge or Barque?

We’re back with yet another illuminating look at historical ship variations and fun facts to go along with it. In the previous installment of ‘What Ship is That’ we took a look at the Argosy and Balener. Today we continue our exploration of the wonderful world of ancient shipping by taking a look at the brawny Ballinger, hard-working Barge and much-loved Barque.

What Ship Is That?

You might not believe this, but the crew at Link Ship Chandlers are a bunch of shipping nerds. ‘What?’, I hear you cry, ‘that’s shocking!’ All kidding aside, we adore ships of all shapes and sizes, which is why we thought we’d share a little bit of insight into our favourite historical ship types – mostly because it’s fascinating to see how the shipping trade developed over many centuries, but also because it’s really fun to throw words like ‘Argosy’ into a conversation at random to see how people react.

Transnet & GE Collaborating On Digitised African Transport

Transnet officials have announced that the rail and ports operator will be collaborating with global digital industrial giant General Electric (GE) to work towards digitising the African transport sector.

Having worked together for over a decade, the companies are now poised to develop a digital platform that will connect transport operators with shippers in a seamless fashion, which will greatly streamline the pricing, network capacity, shipment planning and goods-to-market processes.

Cape Town Port

The city of Cape Town in South Africa goes by many names – Table Bay, the Cape of Storms, Cape of Good Hope, the fairest Mother City. Situated along one of the most frequently used trade routes around the world, this bustling port plays a vital role in the economic wellbeing of not only South Africa, but the African continent at large.

Coega Port

The shipping trade has played a vital role in the development of South Africa over many centuries. One of the most recent commercial ports to be developed along our sought-after coast line is Coega, also known as the port of Ngqura in regional Xhosa. Situated approximately 20 km northeast of Port Elizabeth at the mouth of the Coega River in Nelson Mandela Bay, it is now officially the 8th largest port of its kind in South Africa.

Port Elizabeth Port + Link Ship Chandlers = 100% Efficiency

The development of modern-day South Africa is closely tied to the shipping trade. Port Elizabeth, in particular, has played a vital role in the local manufacturing sector and has been doing so since 1820, when the first British settlers arrived and starting using the east coast port and harbour in earnest.

Choosing the Right Shipping Container for Your Needs

Following on our previous article on how the advent of the intermodal shipping container changed the freighting landscape forever, we’ll now take a look at the most popular types of containers and their uses.