'Durban is more than adequate'

The southern hemisphere ocean will never see a weekly service of ships bigger than 4 000TEU I respect the intention of the Government to create a new industrial area in Coega and consequently to build a port for the needs of such an area. I disagree completely with the P&O view to create the biggest South African container terminal which would be a hub for themselves and other shipping lines. There is no need for a hub port in the southern hemisphere. Durban container terminal with the new extension plan, phase 1 and 2, will be large enough to accommodate all the transhipment containers for the next 50 years. The southern hemisphere ocean will never see a weekly service of ships bigger than 4 000TEU for the simple reason that the population is not big enough to consume or produce cargo to fill up such services. The Port of Durban can easily increase the maximum draught of one metre without excessive investment. Coega must be a specialised port like Richards Bay with some facilities for containers.