MW deepening a while away

26 Feb 2016 - by Alan Peat

The deepening of the Maydon Wharf

(MW) entrance channel and the six

berths being upgraded at the Port of

Durban’s bulk and breakbulk precinct

will not be completed for at least five

years, according to timelines issued

to FTW by Moshe Motlohi, Transnet

National Ports Authority’s Durban port

manager.

This confirms our prediction carried

in ‘Concerns raised over Durban berth

deepening timelines’ (FTW February

12, 2016). In this we pointed out

that – despite MW’s multi-million

modernisation process – it was going to

remain too shallow for the bigger ships

for which it was designed for some years

to come.

So Motlohi’s estimates do little

more than increase the shipping lines’

concerns. These being that their bulk

and breakbulk vessels up to 55 000

tonnes deadweight (dwt) – which the

upgraded landside facilities at MW are

capable of serving – will mostly have to

sail only half-laden, as TNPA itself said.

A situation which pushes up costs for

both the lines and cargo owners – and

eventually the end consumers.

Asked what the timing schedule

for this berth and entrance channel

deepening was to be, Motlohi told

FTW: “TNPA is currently in the prefeasibility

stage of the project. The

feasibility stage of the project will be

completed by June 2017.

“Thereafter we will commence

with the necessary environmental

approvals.” These, he added, were

anticipated to take two years with a

possible completion date of July 2019.

But this, to a large extent, will

depend on Durban’s ‘greenies’, who

fear the entrance channel deepening

will further damage the port’s only

remaining central sand-bar – a

breeding ground for a myriad sea

creatures. And going on their past

activities, these ‘greenies’ are well

armed for the battle.

Following this, in Motlohi’s hopeful

estimate: “The tender process and

approval of funds for the project will

take a further one year – taking us to

July 2020.”

His prediction therefore is that

“construction will only commence

in August 2020”.