Government’s Operation Phakisa initiative – which seeks to boost South Africa’s global competitiveness in its ocean economy – has allowed for the funding and fast-tracking of several new crane upgrades and investments at the dry dock precinct of the port of Durban, said port manager, Moshe Motlohi in the port’s latest newsletter.
This includes the procurement of 10 new jib cranes. Motlohi said the documentation for the request for funding was currently being finalised. “Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) will be collaborating with Transnet Engineering for the execution of this project,” he said.
Furthermore, the TNPA team is currently busy with design and feasibility studies for the replacement of the south side crane rail at the dry dock. According to Motlohi, this project deals with the replacement of crane rails in the whole precinct as well as the electrical upgrade and re-surfacing around the dry dock.
As the jib cranes and the crane rails were dependent on each other for operations, this project would be executed in alignment with the jib cranes project, Motlohi pointed out.
