Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) at the Port of Ngqura has created two new container berths doubling its container ship capacity to four, following the dredging of berths to a 16m depth.
The construction of two additional container berths is in line with Transnet’s Market Demand Strategy and fulfils TNPA’s function to plan, provide, maintain and improve port infrastructure to ensure efficient and economic functioning of the ports.
The berths have been handed over to the terminal operator, Transnet Port Terminals.
The 16m deep berths each have a 300m long quayside which enables the Ngqura Container Terminal to handle four container ships of up to 11 000 TEU’s at any one time, thus improving ship turn-around time. Stack capacity will also increase from 800 000 TEU’s to two million TEU’s.
A total of seven berths at the Port of Ngqura are now complete – four container berths, two manganese berths and one general cargo berth. TNPA is in the early stages of appointing a terminal operator for the manganese and general cargo terminals. In the interim these berths can be used for lay-bye vessels requiring repairs.
The additional container berths are a highlight in a successful year for the Port of Ngqura which currently handles 70% transhipment cargo and 30% deep-sea imports and exports.
Other highlights for 2012 include:
- Container cargo handling exceeded its 2011/12 expectations rising to 544 258 TEU’s compared to a budgeted figure of 512 000 TEU’s;
- The appointment of a new port manager Nompumelelo Dweba at the start of October;
- Receiving a green port award in September which places the port second among the Eastern Cape Top Green Organisations;
- Being accredited with the ISO14001 and OSHAS 18001 certificates;
- Receiving the Mediterranean Shipping Company’s MSC SOLA which weighs 131 771 tons and, at a length of 350m is the largest container vessel yet to call at the port of Ngqura. Fully loaded it is capable of carrying 11 660 standard containers;
- Three oil rigs calling at the port for general maintenance and upgrading.
As the port grows from strength to strength it is on track to support government’s National Growth Path job creation and poverty alleviation initiatives in the Eastern Cape. To this end it currently employs 225 employees, a number which is expected to increase year-on-year as the port develops.
Alan Straton
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