A number of berths in the Port of Durban have been returned to their original permissible draughts as part of Transnet National Ports Authority’s (TNPA) ongoing efforts to address shallow spots exacerbated by the size of megaships now calling at the port.
“The vessels calling at our ports have gotten bigger and therefore require deeper draughts. But they also cause challenges for ports because of the way in which they more aggressively displace material from the sea bed, thus causing shallow spots. Shallower berths can cut into the vessel payloads of ship owners because it means they cannot sail into the port with their vessels fully laden and have to wait for high tide to sail or berth,” Durban port manager, Moshe Motlohi, said.
Four container berths out of eight at Durban Container Terminal – namely 107, 200, 202 and 205 – have been called back to their original permissible draught of 12.2 metres.
Berth P at the Point Terminal, Berth MW9 at Maydon Wharf Terminal and bulk Berth BCA 4 in the Island View precinct have also been called back to their permissible draughts of 10.3m, 9.3m and 10m respectively.
“Ultimately the safety of vessels must take priority for us as TNPA, which is why the harbour master took the safety precaution to review the permissible draughts of some berths earlier this year,” said Motlohi.
While the Impisi plough tug continues to dredge in the port, the short term plan is for the Italeni grab hopper dredger to continue to dredge along the berth pockets of Durban Container Terminal. Italeni will remain in Durban until the port takes delivery of a hired dredger dedicated to its dredging needs.
TNPA will also be taking delivery of its new Ilembe suction hopper dredger in December 2015. The Ilembe will be used for dredging larger areas such as the entrance channels.
TNPA has also received approval to build a new grab hopper dredger dedicated to the port which should be delivered by the end of 2016.
Motlohi commented that TNPA’s long-term intervention would include the deepening and lengthening of the berths to cater for the bigger vessels now calling at the port. This project is expected to commence in 2016.
Lengthening of the berths will allow the Port of Durban to berth three big vessels versus the two it can currently accommodate.
