Saldanha calls on role-players to help decide upgrade plans

THERE'S BEEN a call from Portnet's port authority division (PAD) to develop the traffic in general containerised cargoes through the bulk port at Saldanha Bay. According to information released to FTW by Asabosa (Association of Ships Agents and Brokers of Southern Africa) in Saldanha, PAD's first move is to gather opinions and information from the shipping community. "As background," said Donovan Fisher of Tallships, and regional chairman of Asabosa, "this process commenced in 1998 with the publication of a draft port development framework by the CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research)." This was the long-term development of the port till the year 2030 - and an even longer-term vision of beyond 2030. As part of this, expansion plans are already underway to increase Saldanha Bay's current iron ore bulk export capacity from 24-million tons to 39-m tons by 2009. "But the focus of this latest proposed PAD planning process is primarily targeting the additional facilities necessary for the movement of general cargo (including perishables) in containers through the port". Also on the agenda, he added, is an evaluation of Saldanha Bay being used as a hub port. "The existing rail infrastructure will need to be examined with Spoornet. But the initial indications are positive." Asabosa, therefore, has widely circulated the detail of these plans to all potential role-players. According to Graham Clemitson of King & Sons, and containerisation sub-committee member of Asabosa, replies to the association's memorandum are expected this week.