The Port of Durban was on lock-down yesterday as a massive storm with gale force winds battered the port city.
MSC director Glenn Delve told FTW Online that the MSC Ines had set sail for the Far East from Durban port this morning (Tuesday) when the wind pushed her sideways in the harbour mouth.
“She went onto a sandbank and may have to wait until high tide at about six o’clock to get out.”
He said the vessel’s 25 crew were unharmed and the cargo of mainly minerals and forestry products was undamaged.
Delve said the shipping company’s building in the CBD had also been hard hit by the storm which had blown out the windows on three floors of the office block.
FTW Online understands that a number of vessels have lost their moorings because they weren’t properly secured by the port.
While there have been some issues with empty containers those were mainly in the depots around the port area.
An industry source said the gates to the port had been physically closed. “We don’t know when it will be operational again."
Winds of 80km/hour were forecast, but these came through at 140km/h, he said.
The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) suspended its services due to safety concerns and several roads were closed and residents told to stay indoors.
Airline passengers were advised to check the status of their flights with the airlines concerned to ascertain if there were delays.
FTWO was awaiting comment from TPT at the time of writing.
Watch a video of the MSC Ines at the entrance of the Durban harbour below:
