CT terminal will treble capacity

Expansion cost estimated at R350m Ray Smuts THE EXPANSION of the Cape Town container terminal 300m towards the North East thus trebling capacity from the current 4 410 ground slots to around 12 500 is the only solution to achieving long-term, sustainable, efficiencies in the port. That much is clear from a briefing by port planning manager Billy Cilliers. Cilliers says an intensive NPA study in conjunction with the container terminal has determined a number of short-term solutions that will provide sufficient capacity until the expansion is complete. One such solution, the block stacking of empty containers at area 619, has been implemented and has led to total present stack capacity being improved from 420 000 to 535 000 TEUs. Once the expansion is complete the container terminal would have a stack capacity of 1,6 million TEUs per annum. A big problem in the current scenario is that boxes have to be double handled and undergo more than one move from vessel to quayside and vice versa. The way Cilliers sees it, such a cumbersome process could be eradicated by each berth having its own 'backyard', so to speak, where boxes are methodically stacked category-wise - reefers, imports, exports, transhipment and so on. This will allow for a direct straddle carrier landside operation in close proximity to the vessel worked which will improve terminal effeciency and ultimately allow faster vessel turnaround times. The latest estimate for the expansion of the container terminal is R350m. One of the biggest costs involved in extending the terminal by 36h is around R155 million for concrete surfacing of the entire area and Cilliers believes this, rather than surfacing only a portion, is the way to go. He remains confident that NPA head office understands the need to commit capital expenditure of this magnitude. A lengthy environmental impact assessment into terminal expansion overseen by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, is currently underway and should be completed by mid-2003. Also on the drawing board is a study to determine the long-term demand for future berths. This could involve moving the 701, 702 and 703 quay infrastructure towards the North East and thereby creating space for two new deep water berths with a draught of around 16m to the north of the present terminal. The new berth developments will allow the port to accommodate the 'new generation' of large container ships with capacity up to 8 000 TEU. These options are however subject to several tehnical studies, the results of which will determine the end design. When that will materialise is a moot point as Cilliers is quick to point out. ÒWith Cape Town being the first and last port of call and a per vessel average of 338 boxes based on last year's 1 022 container terminal arrivals, one has to ask who is going to chuck a ship that size at you?Ó (What is probably not generally realised by many is that berths 602, 603 and 604 have a draught of 14 metres, sufficient to accommodate up to 5 000 TEU new build vessels). l Each berth to have own 'backyard' l Boxes will be stacked by category l Study will determine future berth needs