An estimated R14 billion investment is needed to address physical constraints at the Port of East London that are increasing costs for exporters and limiting the volumes and types of cargo the port can handle.
Speaking at the Eastern Cape Export Symposium on August 19, TNPA Port Engineer Zanele Ntantala said the port’s shallow entrance channel, restricted turning basin and berth depths prevented it from accommodating larger modern vessels.
The turning basin can accommodate only three vessels, while some ships have to reduce their loads at other ports before entering East London. This adds to customers’ costs and limits the port’s capacity.
“We need an estimated R14 billion to implement the project successfully at the Port of East London,” Ntantala said.
The proposed project would include realigning the entrance channel and breakwater, deepening the turning basin and upgrading the berths to accommodate larger vessels.
However, the development has been stalled since around 2010, with funding remaining a major obstacle.
The port is also facing increasing weather-related disruptions. Harbour Master Pinky Zungu said extreme wind events were leaving the port wind-bound more frequently.
“We are seeing wind speeds that have never been recorded in the past,” she said.
Zungu said bollard-mounted surge-control systems had been procured for ports such as Cape Town and Durban, but further investment was required at East London to improve vessel safety during adverse weather conditions.
The port’s infrastructure and operational constraints have knock-on effects throughout the supply chain, particularly for the Eastern Cape’s automotive and agricultural exporters.
Celeste Oberholzer, Director of Commercial Projects at DHL Express Sub-Saharan Africa, said airfreight could be used to expedite critical shipments when supply chains were disrupted.
