Pier 1 container terminal to set new efficiency standards

Berths being deepened to 15.5 metres TERRY HUTSON THERE ARE encouraging signs that Durban’s second container terminal, now under construction at Pier 1, will set new standards for container handling in SA. That’s a strong statement which doesn’t come from SA Port Operations (Sapo). It is however based on the radical departure that Sapo has taken in the way containers will be handled at Pier 1. Gone are the straddle carriers, to be replaced by a fleet of ten rubber tyre gantries (RTGs), supported by a fleet of trucks and trailers servicing six super post-panamax ship-to-shore cranes (STS) at three deepwater berths. The terminal occupies 12ha of the former Pier 1 multi purpose terminal, now relocated to the Point, and will be supported by a new rail terminal by the end of August, capable of handling full block load trains of 50 wagons (100 TEUs), plus a new road access of six lanes in and four out. The terminal operating system will be provided by NAVIS, said by Sapo to be much better than COSMOS. Just as exciting is the fact that the three berths are being deepened from 11.8m to 15.5m alongside. This means that the largest container ships afloat will in theory be able to visit Pier 1. Berths at the Durban Container Terminal are likely to be deepened at a later stage. Pier 1 will have 3486 ground slots for a capacity of 720 000 TEUs, compared with 136 000 TEUs from 1100 slots at present. This will include 468 reefer slots (60 at the old terminal). The reason for this increase in capacity (Pier 1 will have a greater capacity than Phase 1 at Coega) is the RTG operation, a radical departure for SA port operation. Containers will be stacked 5-high at Pier 1, compared with 2-high at DCT. All these changes are already well under way. Pier 1 is now a construction site, with half of the new slab already in place and the first six RTGs being assembled on site, with two STS cranes due in the next few weeks. The first berth opposite a stacking area of 3ha and a 150 000 TEU capacity will be in business by the end of April, with the second berth ready by end August (capacity 600 000 TEUs) and the third berth and terminal complete by year end – six STS, 10 RTGs and capacity 720 000 TEUs. The cost of rebuilding Pier 1 will amount to around R2 billion but the benefit to Durban and South Africa will be incalculable. The terminal will employ about 400 people, most of whom are being recruited and will undergo intensive training. When complete Pier 1 will rank as one of the best equipped terminals anywhere and there will be no excuse for anything but the best service in future.