Draughts reduced at three Durban berths

At a stakeholder meeting with Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) last week, the shipping lines were told that the draught of three berths on Pier 1 had been reduced. This was revealed as TNPA set out the revised berthing plans at a meeting called by the Durban harbour master, Captain Alex Miya. In the notice to mariners titled “permissible draught at berths”, ship operators and agents were disturbed to learn that the maximum permissible draught for vessels had been reduced at Pier 1 Berth 107 from 12.2 metres to 11.7m, as had the draught at Berth 105. Crossberth 108, meantime, was reduced from 12.2m to 11.6m, according to an FTW contact who attended the meeting. All of this would appear to be the result of the harbour bottom silting up – something that isn’t happening in Durban harbour, and definitely isn’t causing a danger to ships, according to a memo sent to FTW from the TNPA. Our unnamed contact said that if ships sailed with their usual loads most of them would exceed this new permissible draught, and therefore have to moor at one of the three berths on Pier 2. “And this, in turn, would lead to “hideous congestion,” he added, “or force us to lose money and sail with reduced loads.” He also pointed out that, when TNPA was asked to dredge any of the berths, their normal story was that Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) was busy, and loathe to free up the berth for dredging. “But this time,” our source added, “TPT called their bluff, and when TNPA asked if they could dredge Berth 105, TPT said ‘sure thing, go ahead’.” And his latest news was that, as no Durban dredger was available, one had been called up from East London and was scheduled to begin dredging the very day he talked to FTW. “I don’t know if this is going to be true,” he added, “or whether we will be faced with some other excuse. “But whatever, all this is just another indication of how poorly Durban harbour is being looked after.”