Home
FacebookTwitterSearchMenu
  • Subscribe
  • Subscribe
  • News
  • Features
  • Knowledge Library
  • Columns
  • Customs
  • Jobs
  • Directory
  • FX Rates
  • Categories
    • Categories
    • Africa
    • Air Freight
    • BEE
    • Border Beat
    • COVID-19
    • Crime
    • Customs
    • Domestic
    • Duty Calls
    • Economy
    • Employment
    • Energy/Fuel
    • Events
    • Freight & Trading Weekly
    • Imports and Exports
    • Infrastructure
    • International
    • Logistics
    • Other
    • People
    • Road/Rail Freight
    • Sea Freight
    • Skills & Training
    • Social Development
    • Sustainability
    • Technology
    • Trade/Investment
    • Webinars
  • Contact us
    • Contact us
    • About Us
    • Advertise
    • Send us news
    • Editorial Guidelines
Logistics
Sea Freight

DoT backs plan to launch new national shipping carrier

02 Jun 2025 - by Lyse Comins
 Source: Shutterstock
0 Comments

Share

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google+
  • LinkedIn
  • E-mail
  • Print

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy is advancing plans to launch a national shipping carrier.

The Department of Transport has invited shipping companies to join a steering committee tasked with shaping a model for the national carrier, working in collaboration with the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), Business Day reported on Monday.

The move, which comes 25 years after Safmarine was sold to Maersk, aims to recapture a significant share of South Africa’s import and export volumes that have been handled by foreign carriers since the country’s maritime decline began in the 1980s.

According to a government notice published on Friday, the DBSA will play a pivotal role in developing the South African National Shipping Company model.

“The department is collaborating with the DBSA for the establishment of this SA National Shipping Company model that will enable South Africa to carry its own import and export trade, which has suffered negative growth since the 1980s as SA does not have a national shipping carrier,” the notice stated.

The steering committee will include representatives from the Department of Transport, DBSA, and other key stakeholders. It will also develop terms of reference to steer the process.

This initiative builds on earlier efforts to revive the maritime sector, following the release of a draft Bill in 2022 that proposed the establishment of the SA Shipping Company (Sasco).

The draft bill originated from the 2017 Comprehensive Maritime Transport Policy, which highlighted the strategic importance of a national shipping line for South Africa’s trade competitiveness.

South Africa currently stands out as the only Brics (Brazil, Russia, India and China) member state without its own national fleet and has a record of poor management of state-owned enterprises, which has cost taxpayers an estimated R700 billion in bailouts over the past decade.

The renewed interest in a state-backed carrier comes as South Africa’s logistics sector undergoes a major transformation, with increased private-sector involvement to address port congestion and rail inefficiencies.

If the plan moves forward, the government is expected to explore opportunities to acquire existing vessels or companies, possibly funded by the Industrial Development Corporation.

Safmarine, founded in 1946, was sold to Maersk in 1999 and was fully integrated into the Danish multinational’s operations by 2020.

Major global players like Maersk, Mediterranean Shipping Company, CMA CGM, and local players such as Robertson and Caine and Sandock Austral Shipyards, currently dominate the market.

Sign up to our mailing list and get daily news headlines and weekly features directly to your inbox free.
Subscribe to receive print copies of Freight News Features to your door.

Australia launches world’s largest electric ship

Sea Freight
Technology

At 130 metres in length, Hull 096 is the largest electric vessel of its kind ever built.

05 May 2025
0 Comments

Naval drones cause havoc at Black Sea port

Logistics

The strike destroyed a Russian Su-30 fighter jet mid-air in a historic first for UAVs.

05 May 2025
0 Comments

Ukrainian authorities detain Tanzania-flagged cargo ship

Sea Freight

The vessel was intercepted near the Port of Reni as it was reportedly en route to the Turkish port of Gemlik.

05 May 2025
0 Comments

Multi-purpose terminal operator for Port of Durban sought

Logistics

The brownfield development site spans 145 hectares in the Maydon Wharf precinct of the port.

05 May 2025
0 Comments

Maputo port’s $165m terminal expansion under way

Sea Freight

The container terminal will be able to accommodate post-Panamax vessels of up to 366 metres in length.

 

02 May 2025
0 Comments

Strong figures confirm Mozambique’s economic ascendancy

Africa
Economy

Last year, growth decreased to 5%, mainly because of political unrest following disputed elections.

02 May 2025
0 Comments

DP World ships vinyl from high-tech UK warehouse

International
Logistics

Robots move independently across the facility after receiving worker input in a blend of automation and manual precision.

02 May 2025
0 Comments

Trump tariffs cast shadow over SA’s soybean exports

Africa
Imports and Exports
International

Increased competition in third markets seems a certainty as US producers seek alternative destinations.

02 May 2025
0 Comments

South African beef exports up 30% y-o-y

Africa
Imports and Exports

For this export momentum to continue, we must intensify our efforts to control animal diseases. – Wandile Sihlobo.

02 May 2025
0 Comments

DSV completes acquisition of Schenker

Logistics

The acquisition is valued at approximately EUR 14.3 billion.

02 May 2025
0 Comments

Container market outlook bleaker for rest of 2025

Logistics

Complicating matters is overcapacity in the liner trade because of a surge in new vessel deliveries.

02 May 2025
0 Comments

National carrier plans new routes despite constraints

Air Freight

The airline has two pairs of landing slots at London Heathrow, which it is leasing out but could reclaim with adequate notice.

02 May 2025
0 Comments
  • More

FeatureClick to view

Durban & Richards Bay 6 June 2025

Border Beat

Zim's anti-smuggling measures delay legitimate freight operations
06 Jun 2025
Cross-border payments remain a hurdle – Masondo
30 May 2025
BMA steps in to help DG and FMCG cargo at Groblersbrug
21 May 2025
More

Poll

Has South Africa's ports turned the corner?

Featured Jobs

New

Seafreight Import / Export Controller DBN

Tiger Recruitment
Durban
09 Jun
New

Transport Operations Manager

Lee Botti & Associates
Durban
09 Jun
More Jobs
  • © Now Media
  • Privacy Policy
  • Freight News RSS
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Send us news
  • Contact us