Dredging digs up new volumes for Maputo

Cargo volumes handled by the Port of Maputo grew by 22% in 2017, with 18.2 million tons of cargo handled compared to 14.9m in 2016. Volume growth has followed the dredging of the access channel below 11 metres chart datum which restricted the Matola and Maputo terminals to vessels carrying between 50 000 and 55 000 tons. “The dredging resulted in an increase of 40% to the average parcel size for Maputo Main Port and a 55% increase for Matola,” says Osório Lucas, chief executive officer of the Maputo Port Development Company (MPDC). “The maximum vessel upliftment achieved to date was MV AMANI with 96 400 tons of magnetite,” he added. Investment has continued in the terminals. In July 2017, the Matola Coal Terminal (TCM) inaugurated the rehabilitation of its berth, which included deepening to -15.4 metres below chart datum along the quayside. TCM is the port’s first terminal to take full advantage of the dredging initiative, allowing fully laden Panamax vessels of up to 275 metres long, 14.5 metres of draught on neap tides and 15.5 metres on spring tides, according to Lucas. The average vessel upliftment at TCM, since the berth inauguration, is estimated at 85 000 tons Improved efficiencies and reliability by Transnet Freight Rail, together with the berth rehabilitation, allowed the terminal to reach record volume of 5.3 million tons. Maputo port will also be able to accommodate larger vessels at its bulk quays. MPDC is due to start on the rehabilitation of berths 6, 7, 8 and 9 (a total of 1 058 metres of quayside) in the second quarter of 2018. “This is a major project and marks the last major steps defined by the Masterplan for the Port of Maputo. The rehabilitation will not only create berths with a depth of up to -15 metres below chart datum, but will improve the berth occupation rate through the creation of a bigger and deeper mooring area,” says Lucas. Capacity for containerised bulk cargo has also been increased. In 2017, the DP World Maputo Container Terminal also began its expansion works from 150 000 TEUs to 250 000 TEUs. The works include the expansion for two rail sidings of 375 metres each in length. A second phase of expansion contemplates the increase to 450 000 TEUs, dependent on market demand. Dredging and ongoing projects will allow the port to respond to the growing demand for the regional market and achieve significantly larger volumes per year, with the aim of handling 30 million tons by the end of the current MPDC concession period. The current concession is until 2025, with an option to extend it to 2033.