Four new hybrid straddle carriers are set to enter service at the Cape Town Container Terminal in July as part of Transnet Port Terminals' (TPT) equipment replacement programme to support the recovery of terminal operations.
The R96 million investment will expand yard handling capacity and give operational teams greater flexibility in managing container movements, TPT said.
The straddle carriers, the first hybrid units to be deployed in Southern Africa, are expected to enter service in July after operator training and the installation of in-cab computer systems that provide real-time operating instructions and cargo tracking.
The hybrid units operate on both diesel and electric power, reducing fuel consumption, emissions and noise while maintaining operational performance, said Cape Terminals managing executive Earle Peters.
"The investment will provide more equipment to support daily operations across the terminal, which gives operational teams greater flexibility in managing container movements and supporting customer requirements," Peters said.
The terminal, which has traditionally relied on rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) cranes, is transitioning to a hybrid operating model combining RTGs and straddle carriers to improve yard capacity and meet operational demand.
The latest delivery forms part of TPT's broader capital investment programme, under which R9 billion has been invested in cargo-handling equipment across its terminal network over the past three years.
Further investments planned for the 2026/27 financial year include additional straddle carriers and empty container handlers for the Cape Town and Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha) container terminals, rubber-tyred gantry cranes for Durban Container Terminal Pier 1, reach stackers for multipurpose terminals and haulers for Richards Bay operations.
The Cape Town Container Terminal had improved productivity and annual container volumes following the introduction of new equipment, despite losing 74.15 days to weather-related disruptions caused by wind, fog and vessel ranging during the 12 months ended March 2026, TPT said.
