Latest news with #SAAgulhasII
The Citizen
3 days ago
- Business
- The Citizen
Urgent application to stop ship tender ‘tailored' for the incumbent
Competing bidder JS Maritime Partners cries foul over tender conditions it says are designed to shut it out. The tender states that bidders with older rather than newer facilities and premises will be favoured. Picture: SA Agulhas II): South African National Antarctic Programme Marine management company JS Maritime Partners has filed an urgent application in the Cape High Court to stop the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) from awarding a tender for the management of the state-owned SA Agulhas II and Algoa vessels on the grounds that it is tailor-made for the incumbent, Amsol. The DFFE says it will oppose the application. Captain Stefan Bulow, CEO of JS Maritime, states: 'We have brought this application on an urgent basis because we believe the tender is tailor-made for the incumbent and designed to eliminate competing bids.' The bid closed on 23 May. ALSO READ: 'New site for tender fraud': EFF wary of SA's new petrol company Necessary information A tender briefing was held on 23 April in Cape Town with several bidders in attendance – among them JS Maritime Partners and Amsol. During the tender briefing, Bulow asked for information that only the incumbent operator would know, such as the insurance claims history and historical true spend on the ship, but says while the department has responded, the answers given are unsatisfactory and illogical. JS Maritime, an international shipping company based in Cape Town, has teamed up with HF Offshore, together operating 22 vessels, and with the local Khoisan Consortium to bid for ship management and consulting contracts in SA. 'All we are asking for is a level playing field,' says Bulow. 'From the way the tender is designed, it is clear that there can only be one outcome, and that is to the benefit of Amsol. We have asked the DFFE for answers to a number of questions that are vital to our ability to submit a comprehensive and accurate tender, but the requests were declined on the basis that bidders must estimate and provide assumptions, which is illogical. 'So, unfortunately, we have to take this matter to court and seek an urgent interdict to stop the tender going ahead as it is currently structured.' ALSO READ: Sanral suspends R1.57bn contract award pending an investigation The information it requested from the DFFE: The insurance claims history of the SA Agulahs II and the Algoa, which is essential in determining insurance premiums; The current insured values of the two vessels and their tonnage specifications; The historical costs of operating the vessels, which only Amsol would know; Clarification on the meaning of various cost codes in the tender documents; Daily charter rates, number of charters, and crew size; Fuel rates; and Costs for drydocking and maintenance. 'The current service provider, Amsol, has access to all such information,' Julio Sieni of Dirk Kotze Attorneys for JS Maritime wrote to the DFFE. 'Were this not the case, it would be unable to perform. Thus, not to share this information with other potential bidders would be grossly irregular and blatantly unfair and would fall foul of all legislation pertaining to this type of tender process.' The lack of response for specific information from the DFFE to questions is troubling, says Bulow. ALSO READ: SCA finds defence department's R60 million tender invalid and unlawful No response for Moneyweb either Moneyweb approached Amsol for comment and was referred to the DFFE. The DFFE promised to reply to Moneyweb's questions a week ago but had not done so at the time of publication. What is clear, however, is that it intends opposing JS Maritime's application. Other irregularities There are a number of other irregularities in the tender document highlighted by JS Maritime. For example, the requirement that the tenderer must have had the required facilities and premises for more than eight years in order to achieve maximum points. This is illogical, says Bulow, and seems to have been inserted to benefit the incumbent rather than someone else with more suitable and modern premises that are not eight years old. Sieni says the failure of the DFFE to provide the requested information to complete the tender application – information that is crucial to completing the tender document – and its silence on the request to extend the tender closing date, leaves it with no option but to approach the Western Cape High Court for an urgent interdict. This article was republished from Moneyweb. Read the original here.
The Guardian
17-03-2025
- The Guardian
Antarctic researcher accuses colleague of death threat and assault
A member of a South African research team trapped on a remote Antarctic base has accused a colleague of physical assault and making a death threat, pleading for 'immediate action' to be taken. The accusations were made in an email sent from the base that was shared with the South African newspaper the Sunday Times. The person making the allegations said they feared for their own and their colleagues' safety at South Africa's Sanae IV research base, demanding 'immediate action', the newspaper reported, quoting an email it said was sent last month. South Africa's environment minister, Dion George, whose department manages the country's Antarctic programme, confirmed that an assault had taken place and that he was 'considering options', without specifying what these were. 'An intervention is in place,' he said. 'The person who assaulted the team leader is remorseful and has been psychologically re-evaluated willingly.' Asked what triggered the assault, George said: 'It was a dispute over a task the team leader wanted the team to do – a weather-dependent task that required a schedule change.' The 10-person team is not due to be relieved until December, as ice and winter storms close in on the base, which is about 100 miles south of Antarctica's ice shelf and more than 2,600 miles south of Cape Town. The email quoted by the Sunday Times, which removed all names, said: 'Regrettably, [his] behaviour has escalated to a point that is deeply disturbing. Specifically, he physically assaulted [name withheld], which is a grave violation of personal safety and workplace norms.' 'Furthermore, he threatened to kill [name withheld], creating an environment of fear and intimidation. I remain deeply concerned about my own safety, constantly wondering if I might become the next victim.' The email demanded: 'It is imperative that immediate action is taken to ensure my safety and the safety of all employees.' It said 'numerous concerns' had been raised about the alleged attacker, between the team being dropped off in Antarctica by South Africa's SA Agulhas II ship in late December and the boat departing a little over a month later. The SA Agulhas II is not due to make the 10- to 15-day journey from Cape Town to pick up the overwintering team and drop off a new team until December. There is a German base, the Neumayer Station III, about 137 miles north-west of South Africa's station. Farther inland, about 118 miles south-east, is Norway's Troll Base. A spokesperson for South Africa's department of forestry, fisheries and the environment said: 'The wellness unit is in contact with the team at the base on a continuous basis to find solutions and sustainable way forward for the wellbeing of the team members located in that remote base. 'A full investigation is currently being commissioned and the department will act accordingly in relation to any wrong conduct against any official that has misconducted themselves.' South Africa first established a scientific station in Antarctica in 1960, when it took over a Norwegian base. Researchers at the base, which comprises three linked, double-storey buildings, 44 metres long by 14 metres wide, study the Earth's electromagnetic fields, as well as Antarctic geology and biodiversity. South Africa also has research stations on Marion Island, 1,300 miles south-east of Cape Town, and Gough Island, 1,600 miles south-west of the Cape of Good Hope, where it leases land from Britain, due to the latter's control of Saint Helena. It is not the first time that one of South Africa's Antarctic teams has been involved in a violent controversy. In 2017, a Marion Island research team member allegedly attacked a colleague's laptop with an axe, after a woman involved with the colleague turned down his marriage proposal.
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Yahoo
Antarctic scientists plead for help after ‘sexual assault and threats' by colleague
Scientists trapped in a remote Antarctic research station have called for urgent help after a colleague was accused of sexual assault and threatening to kill a team member. At least one member of the South African delegation has requested 'immediate action' amid allegations the unnamed man physically assaulted and threatened to kill one colleague, and sexually assaulted another. The 10-person team is trapped at the base by encroaching ice and weather as the southern hemisphere winter sets in at the remote Sanae IV base on a cliff edge about 105 miles inland from the ice shelf. Teams overwintering at the base are typically cut off for 10 months at a time. Sources told South Africa's Sunday Times that the only way to leave the base now was via emergency medical evacuation to a neighbouring German base about 190 miles away. An email sent last month to government officials warned of the alleged situation in the base and left officials scrambling to try to defuse tensions. South Africa's Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, which manages the country's Antarctic research programme, said it was 'responding to these concerns with the utmost urgency and have had a number of interventions with all parties concerned at the base'. 'A full investigation is being commissioned and the department will act accordingly in relation to any wrong conduct against any official that has misconducted themselves.' The warning email from an unnamed member of staff alleged a colleague's behaviour had become 'increasingly egregious, and I am experiencing significant difficulty in feeling secure in his presence'. 'It is imperative that immediate action is taken to ensure my safety and the safety of all employees. The email went on: 'Regrettably, [his] behaviour has escalated to a point that is deeply disturbing. Specifically, he physically assaulted [name withheld], which is a grave violation of personal safety and workplace norms. 'Furthermore, he threatened to kill [name withheld], creating an environment of fear and intimidation. 'I remain deeply concerned about my own safety, constantly wondering if I might become the next victim.' The email claimed 'numerous concerns' were raised about the man's conduct by the overwintering team before the SA Agulhas II ice-breaking research ship departed for the season and left them stranded. A source told the paper: 'They were informed of the situation [at Sanae IV] well in advance – way before the season closed .... Now there's nothing they can do as there are no planes or ships going to or leaving Antarctica.' 'They had all the time to remedy the situation but they simply buried their heads in the sand hoping that it'll go away. They were informed about the problem as early as December.' The alleged incidents have also raised questions about whether the team members were sufficiently psychologically screened to ensure they could endure the mental rigours of an Antarctic winter. This is not the first time South Africa's Antarctic research programme has encountered personnel problems. In 2017 a team member at Marion Island was accused of attacking a colleague with a frying pan in the kitchen, then trashing his room with an axe. The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment said it was monitoring the situation on a near daily basis and the team was being 'reassessed' by the expert who had originally given them psychometric tests. The team were also being given help with 'conflict resolution strategies, interpersonal skills improvement as well as overall counselling and support'. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
17-03-2025
- Telegraph
Antarctic scientists plead for help after ‘sexual assault and threats' by colleague
Scientists trapped in a remote Antarctic research station have called for urgent help after a colleague was accused of sexual assault and threatening to kill a team member. At least one member of the South African delegation has requested 'immediate action' amid allegations the unnamed man physically assaulted and threatened to kill one colleague, and sexually assaulted another. The 10-person team is trapped at the base by encroaching ice and weather as the southern hemisphere winter sets in at the remote Sanae IV base on a cliff edge about 105 miles inland from the ice shelf. Teams overwintering at the base are typically cut off for 10 months at a time. Sources told South Africa's Sunday Times that the only way to leave the base now was via emergency medical evacuation to a neighbouring German base about 190 miles away. An email sent last month to government officials warned of the alleged situation in the base and left officials scrambling to try to defuse tensions. South Africa's Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, which manages the country's Antarctic research programme, said it was 'responding to these concerns with the utmost urgency and have had a number of interventions with all parties concerned at the base'. 'A full investigation is being commissioned and the department will act accordingly in relation to any wrong conduct against any official that has misconducted themselves.' 'Behaviour increasingly egregious' The warning email from an unnamed member of staff alleged a colleague's behaviour had become 'increasingly egregious, and I am experiencing significant difficulty in feeling secure in his presence'. 'It is imperative that immediate action is taken to ensure my safety and the safety of all employees. The email went on: 'Regrettably, [his] behaviour has escalated to a point that is deeply disturbing. Specifically, he physically assaulted [name withheld], which is a grave violation of personal safety and workplace norms. 'Furthermore, he threatened to kill [name withheld], creating an environment of fear and intimidation. 'I remain deeply concerned about my own safety, constantly wondering if I might become the next victim.' The email claimed 'numerous concerns' were raised about the man's conduct by the overwintering team before the SA Agulhas II ice-breaking research ship departed for the season and left them stranded. A source told the paper: 'They were informed of the situation [at Sanae IV] well in advance – way before the season closed .... Now there's nothing they can do as there are no planes or ships going to or leaving Antarctica.' 'They had all the time to remedy the situation but they simply buried their heads in the sand hoping that it'll go away. They were informed about the problem as early as December.' The alleged incidents have also raised questions about whether the team members were sufficiently psychologically screened to ensure they could endure the mental rigours of an Antarctic winter. This is not the first time South Africa's Antarctic research programme has encountered personnel problems. In 2017 a team member at Marion Island was accused of attacking a colleague with a frying pan in the kitchen, then trashing his room with an axe. The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment said it was monitoring the situation on a near daily basis and the team was being 'reassessed' by the expert who had originally given them psychometric tests. The team were also being given help with 'conflict resolution strategies, interpersonal skills improvement as well as overall counselling and support'.
