Durban Container Terminal (DCT) Pier 2 has taken delivery of another eight fully assembled electric straddle carriers, completing its order of 23 for the current calendar year.
”Commissioning and endurance testing will still be conducted, with handover estimated in early October,” says Pier 2 terminal manager Zamo Ngcobo. DCT Pier 2 is responsible for handling most of South Africa’s container volumes and the new straddles replace ageing equipment.
This recent acquisition is valued at R236 884 million.
DCT Pier 2 is one of 16 sea-cargo and three inland terminals managed by Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) that have benefited from the R2 billion set aside to invest in replacement equipment this current calendar year. A further 22 straddles are on order, expected to arrive between March and May 2021.
Complementing the equipment boost is the increased number of resources working the vessels, a new terminal structure, technological advancements for better decision making, and the implementation of a mandatory truck appointment system, says Ngcobo.