Navy denies rumours that NPA will take over Salisbury Island

Alan Peat THERE IS a strong rumour going the rounds in Durban that the SA Navy is to withdraw from its present Salisbury Island base with the area due to be taken over by the National Ports Authority (NPA) and added to its current container terminal facility. The extensive area of the Durban Bluff currently occupied by the navy Ð with berthing quays, a ship repair yard, and a large shoreside facility - would add space for 700 000 more containers to the present Durban container terminal (DCT) capacity. Area commander for the SA Navy, commander Dave Jones, however denied that there was any truth in the rumour. The long-term plan is that the present navy base will remain while part of the facility will be handed over to the army as a support base. "We're certainly not handing over any of it to the NPA for their container operation," Jones said. "Neither now, nor in the foreseeable future."