I nvestments in the port of Maputo have made it a natural and viable alternative to Durban during the deepening of the container berths in the port of Durban, according to DP World Maputo commercial general manager Mark Neel. “Maputo is fully geared to help relieve congestion and delays in the port of the Durban during the DCT berth improvement project,” he says. Transnet executives told a meeting of stakeholders in Durban that the R7-billion upgrade would be completed by 2023. According to Transnet, the marine infrastructure work will be executed in three successive phases. Berths will be decommissioned one at a time to minimise disruption. Neel says a US$80-million investment by DP World in the Maputo container terminal has increased capacity from 100 000 to 300 000 TEUs a year. “These investments are already providing customers with superior service, with zero vessel waiting time and truck terminal turn times of 19-23 minutes,” he says. In addition, the Maputo Port Development Company (MPDC) has deepened the approach channel to allow larger vessels to call. The container terminal can accommodate vessels of up to 308 metres and with a draught of 12.5 metres. According to Neel, a number of South African companies have successfully run test shipments from the Far East through Maputo to Gauteng. “This supply chain routing not only saves the consignee money, but also safeguards them against unforeseen delays at other congested terminals,” he says. The expected delays in the port of Durban will give logistics companies and shippers an incentive and reason to rethink supply chains which have been developed over the past 40 years. Neel says Maputo can take the pressure off shipping lines being delayed in Durban by serving as both a transit hub for the smaller regional ports and by returning to its historic role as the preferred gateway for trade with the reef.
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