AMSOL RENAMES SA FLAGGED TANKER

In November, industry friends, clients and associates celebrated the renaming of AMSOL’s tanker ‘ILITHA’ at a ceremony held in the Port of Ngqura, followed by a celebration at the AMSOL office and warehouse facility in the Coega Special Economic Zone. This milestone reaffirms the company’s commitment to South Africa’s maritime industry and to the Eastern Cape region; with Port Elizabeth designated as the vessel’s home port. Proudly South African-flagged, this brings AMSOL’s fleet to sixteen locally registered vessels.

AMSOL’s Chief Operating Officer, Graham Dreyden:
“ ‘ILITHA’, meaning ‘ray of light’, represents the strength of South African capability and our commitment to growing the maritime economy. This vessel stands as a symbol of investment, partnership, and the confidence we have in the Eastern Cape and South Africa’s future in this sector.”
Over the past six years, AMSOL has invested more than R660 million in vessel acquisitions and over R350 million in drydocking and maintenance in 2025 alone. Local procurement to the value of R660 million has been secured in the past nine months. Permanent employees of AMSOL who are beneficiaries of the AMSOL Employee Trust have also collectively received over R75 million in dividends since 2016, contributing to meaningful socio-economic impact.

The ceremony was officiated by AMSOL’s Offshore Marine Services Executive, Pumla Makubalo, who invited Ms Pamela Yoyo, Port Manager for the Nelson Mandela Bay Ports of Port Elizabeth and Ngqura, to lead the time-honoured renaming tradition. ‘ILITHA’ is operating in Algoa Bay, further highlighting the company’s contribution to the region.

AMSOL continues to expand its presence in the in-port and offshore bunkering market. Operating across diverse and often challenging environments, the company balances strategic growth with cost competitiveness and sustainability, supported by rigorous safety standards and strong partnerships.

“Our success is built on partnership – between our employees, clients, authorities, and the communities that support us,” Pumla Makubalo noted during the ceremony. “We walk the talk by investing in people, assets, and transformation to ensure that our operations remain sustainable and that our impact extends across the economy.”

AMSOL’s seafarers play a key role in this success, operating 24/7/365 days a year to keep clients’ operations moving while upholding the highest safety and environmental standards. Their dedication is fundamental to the company’s commitment to responsible and sustainable maritime operations.