MSC pays tribute to Port of Ngqura

The grand opening of
the Port of Ngqura by
President Jacob Zuma
saw Captain Salvatore
Sarno, SA chairman of the
Mediterranean Shipping
Company (MSC) – the first
line to make regular use
of the port – presenting a
beautiful model of the MSC
Catania, the first MSC ship
to call there, as a testimony
to the ongoing success of
this port.
Describing the port as “a
magnificent engineering
achievement,” Sarno added:
“Our active participation
in the utilisation of this
container terminal reflects
our belief in the economic
growth and in the future of
this wonderful country.”
In September 2009,
Sarno told an audience
including senior members
of the national and
provincial governments
and high-ranking Transnet
executives, he was
requested to utilise the
new terminal, because
Transnet’s negotiations with
another shipping line had
failed.
“Within three days,” he
said, “I had prepared a plan
of action for an immediate
utilisation of this terminal
- and on the 4th of October
the MSC Catania, our first
vessel, berthed at 12 o’clock
that morning.
“Since then, we have
had 455 vessels calling at
the port and 664 304 MSC
TEUs have been handled.
To date we have paid
Transnet at Ngqura
a staggering amount of
R650-million.”
But the line is not
stopping there, Sarno
added.
“We have decided to
participate more actively in
the education of the South
African shipping mentality
by employing in our offices
40 young trainees each
year,” he said.
“And, in addition to
this, Gianluigi Aponte,
the president of MSC, has
decided to train 10 South
African navigational cadets
on board our various
vessels.”