Big-spending Sapo earmarks R1.1bn for upgrades

TERRY HUTSON SA PORT Operations (Sapo) is on target to spend R1.1 billion on infrastructure and equipment spread among the country’s ports, says Hamilton Nxumalo, Sapo’s GM equipment engineering and asset management. He said that included in this expenditure due to be commissioned within the current financial year are new conveyors and a second tippler at Saldanha’s iron ore terminal. He also expects to commission two IMPS-built ship to shore (STS) post-panamax cranes for Durban Container Terminal during November. The latter will increase DCT’s crane fleet to 19, bringing it within world norms of having a crane for every 100m of berth. But Nxumalo warned that a number of the older machines would have to be taken out of service for much needed maintenance. Earlier this year Sapo chief executive Tau Morwe inaugurated the Pier 1 Container Terminal which, when completed by 2008/09, will have a design capacity of 500 000 TEUs annually. Sapo hopes to finalise tenders for STS cranes, rubber tyred gantries and container moving equipment for Pier 1 by the end of this year. “We are at the procurement stage and anticipate finalising the contracts, estimated to be about R1.4 billion, with prospective suppliers by December this year,” Nxumalo said. “We have entered into a strategic alliance with Kalmar for the supply of 7th generation straddle carriers at an estimated cost of R431 million, to be deployed at Port Elizabeth, Cape Town and DCT. The first batch will arrive in January 2006,” he said. According to Nxumalo Sapo plans to upgrade bulk materials handling countrywide and new equipment for the handling of breakbulk at Durban and Richards Bay has been ordered.