. . . but expects fierce opposition from green lobby PORTNET HAS finally confirmed reports first revealed in FTW several months ago of new container terminal developments in Durban.
A planning document released by the port authority in late December confirms FTW's report (October 3, 1997), although Portnet has stressed that it is still at a conceptual stage only and is still to be ratified by the Local Advisory Committee (LAC) or the Transnet board. According to port manager Bax Nomvete, no decision is likely until March 1998 at the earliest.
The proposals call for a 300 metre channel to be dredged through the controversial sandbank that will allow for extensions to the existing Pier 2. This will create an additional two berths, 207/207, and adjacent stacking space. South African Container Depots, which occupies land nearby, will be given notice to vacate at the end of its lease in late 2001 and this site will then also be incorporated in the expanded terminal.
The provision of this latest developmental phase will see Durban's annual container capacity increase by another 375 000 teus at a cost of about R450 million. The plan calls for 207/207 to be up and running by September 2001.
Portnet also confirmed the development of deep-water berths at the Point between berths D - G, encroaching onto L shed at the T-Jetty, which will facilitate the transfer of the Combi terminal from Pier 1 to this site. The cost will be in the region of R250-million and it could be in operation by the middle of 2002.
The next phase would be to develop Pier 1 with new quays and to fill in the water area between the Pier and the Naval Base at Salisbury Island. Although this will cost a minimum of R625-million, it will be capable of providing additional container handling that should see Durban's capacity increase to the 2 million teu mark. End 2004/early 2005 is the proposed deadline for the completion of this phase.
These new plans differ considerably from those approved by a year-long Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) programme and recommended later by the LAC.
The beauty of Portnet's latest idea, a Portnet spokesman told FTW, is that the staged development means it can be accelerated or slowed down according to demand.
However, a new EIA would be required for the sandbank dredging, and this is likely to be fiercely opposed by Durban Bay 2020 and others. Increased traffic flow arising from the Point redevelopment would also be a concern.
Nothing daunted though, Portnet is apparently looking at starting up as early as May-June 1998 for the Pier 2 and Point berths, with the Salisbury Island/Pier 1 phase commencing in 2001.
Portnet's planners have not ruled out a new port on the airport site to the south of the city either. The above proposals are regarded as short-term, capable of absorbing South Africa's container needs until about 2008/2010. Thereafter new additional terminals will become necessary, and by that time the airport site should have become available for development.
By Terry Hutson
