SA missed a ‘rare and lucrative’ chance to assist ships avoiding Red Sea attacks | Business

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) impounded five vessels, including one drilling ship, in Algoa Bay in September.

South Africa, which is trying to clear its port backlog and dealing with a temporary ban on offshore ship refuelling, has missed a “rare and lucrative opportunity” to assist vessels passing by its coast to the avoid attacks in the Red Sea region, according to the Maritime Business Chamber (MBC).

Earlier this month, repeated attacks by Yemeni Houthi rebels forced shipping companies – including global giants Hapag-Lloyd, Mediterranean Shipping Company and Maersk – to reroute their ships away from the Red Sea region and Suez Canal via the Cape of Good Hope route to Europe and Asia.

Transnet said that no ships were heading to local ports. But there have been inquiries for bunkering services at the Port of Cape Town, though the port is unable to assist.