THE QUESTION of a container terminal at Richards Bay was skirted around very neatly at the recent Portnet client conference held at the port. When asked if a container terminal was still on the cards for Richards Bay, port manager Glen Martin somewhat ambiguously replied that although the debate had not ended it appeared that Durban was going ahead with the development of Pier Three to provide container facilities. He told clients that the new berths being built at Richards Bay would offer considerably improved container handling facilities, which he said would relieve pressure on the combi terminal. Martin said that it was his personal view that Durban would never be able to handle post-Panamax vessels and that after the year 2000 Richards Bay would come back into the limelight as far as container handling was concerned.
FTW spoke to several shipping line representatives at the conference on this question of container handling, and all were adamant that they did not support a container terminal at Richards Bay, or even at Port Elizabeth for that matter. Their choice, it appears, lies firmly with Durban.
