New equipment beefs up operations at ro-ro terminal and Maydon Wharf

Equipment at the Durban ro-ro and Maydon Wharf Terminals has been bolstered by the procurement of 27 haulers in the last three months, representing an investment of just over R52 million. This acquisition comes as part of Transnet Port Terminals’ R438-million investment to boost container handling capacity at the terminal, which mainly handles break-bulk and ro-ro cargo, with specialised capacity to handle containers. The FR230 (4x2) and FR270 (4x4) haulers that arrived over the period August to October are part of a fleet of 33 ordered from manufacturer CVS Ferrari in Italy. The last batch of six haulers is scheduled to arrive later this month. The equipment will primarily be used for hauling cargo, both on the landside and on ro-ro vessels, and is expected to improve efficiencies at the terminal. Twenty five of the haulers will be used in ro-ro operations and eight will be used in the break-bulk and agri-bulk operations. According to Zeph Ndlovu, terminal executive manager for the Durban ro-ro and Maydon Wharf terminals, the haulers replace old equipment and will result in increased productivity and more efficient operation. With a gross weight (GCW) of 75000kg, he said the equipment would also enable faster and safer transportation of cargo and improve safety on the quayside and on the ro-ro ramp. This equipment will work alongside four brand new Liebherr LHM550C mobile harbour cranes that the terminal acquired earlier this year, with two more scheduled to arrive, one next month (November) and the other in February 2013. These infrastructure investments are aligned to the Transnet Market Demand Strategy (MDS) which will see TPT invest R33 billion in capital projects over the next seven years with a focus on beefing up infrastructure in the terminals.