GREEN ISSUES RAISED AS CAPE ROUTE REMAINS BUSY

AS THE remarkable Nadal-Federer era fades, two similarly-minded young tennis Colossi brought their gracious sporting attitude onto Wimbledon's hallowed turf last Sunday.

- BRIAN INGPEN

Like their illustrious predecessors on the world's tennis courts, their refreshing approach to their sport contrasts starkly to the deplorable shenanigans surrounding the police mob, adding to investors flight from the country.

Also happening last week was the sinking of two ships by Houthi rebels off Yemen, possibly kidnapping crewmembers from one of the vessels. Yet umpteen highly sophisticated warships - with fancy anti-drone weaponry - are in the area, specifically to protect shipping!

My prophecy three weeks ago sadly has come true: the Cape route will remain busy as responsible shipowners continue to divert their vessels from the Red Sea amid the new onslaught on shipping. The Houthis are not a ragtag grouping, but a growing and seemingly well-organised, menacing force whose violence against shipping continues to have global consequences.

Over the page from this column last week was Jean Purdon's good article outlining possible environmental effects of increased shipping traffic on the Cape route.

The article raises important issues, including plastic pollution of the sea. Nurdles, tiny plastic balls, are shipped in their millions, and if lost overboard, pose a significant environmental hazard to marine life through ingestion. Plastic should be shipped in larger blocks that, if they are buoyant, can be retrieved more easily should they fall overboard.