The Port of Durban stopped terminal operations yesterday (Tuesday) as a precautionary measure in preparation for thunderstorms accompanied by high speed winds that are expected to hit the city tonight.
Durban port users and industry sources said transporters and shipping lines had received several notifications from Transnet Port Terminals advising that following the closure of the port on Monday that DCT Pier 1 operations had resumed at around 4.45am and DCT Pier 2 at 3am only to be stopped by around 1.30pm, before opening again in the afternoon to accommodate only certain vessels.
Transporter Kevin Martin said:
One of the notices advised port users that “strong winds” of “over 45 knots SW” were expected late in the afternoon and the harbour master’s office had decided to “evacuate some of the vessels which have a higher risk of exposure”. Berths 203 and 204 had been evacuated; resources had been dispatched to evacuate berths 107 and 108 and a vessel in berth 105 would remain alongside the quay and deploy additional mooring lines.
“In the interest of safety we request and urge that all port users take the required precautionary measures, halt vessel operations where required and secure their relevant equipment,” the notice read.
In a notice sent out at around 4.30pm yesterday afternoon Transnet advised port users that all terminal operations were still on standby.
“The wind is expected to increase from 17h00 to 20h00. We are closely monitoring the situation. Do not dispatch trucks to the terminals as this will only congest Bayhead Road and delay the recovery of operations once we resume,” the notice read.
Meanwhile eThekwnini Municipality city manager Sipho Nzuza said in a statement that the city’s disaster management teams were on standby to respond to any disaster during the anticipated severe thunderstorms and rough seas forecast by the SA Weather Services.
