Second port at Durban still possible

A second port at Durban is still possible as part of Transnet’s plans to spend R6.5-billion adding capacity and upgrading infrastructure over the next five years. In the past five years, R12-bn has been spent at the port. Moira Moses, Transnet group CE for capital projects, said it intended to buy Salisbury Island – owned by the department of public works, and currently used as a naval base - and convert it into another container terminal that will add 700 000-TEU capacity. Other projects in Durban include extending and upgrading the berths at Island View, to be completed next year; with berths at Maydon Wharf also to be upgraded, and construction expected to start this August. Good news for the container road transport industry is that there are plans for road construction projects to improve access via Bayhead – and the building of a link road to provide alternative access to the western side of the port. Apart from major capital projects there are 65 smaller projects that are under way at the port – which, said Ricky Bhikraj, Durban port manager, will range from R1-million to R150-m. Moses said Transnet’s infrastructure planning strategy indicated that a second port in Durban might be needed by 2025 – and the utility was considering the now-historic two options. “One is that we can dig up property that we own at Bayhead and extend the current port. Or we could build a new port at the current airport site,” said Moses. Airports Company SA (Acsa) has put the land up for sale because it will be moving the airport to La Mercy from next month. “Currently we have no intentions of acquiring that land. We would be comfortable with it staying within government,” Moses said. A pre-feasibility study has been completed on extending Bayhead and the findings show that it would be viable. The deepening and widening of the entrance and port channels at SA’s premier Port of Durban has also been completed – the R3-billion project finished a month ahead of schedule, and under the forecasted cost. This will allow the port to handle container vessels with a capacity of up to 9 200-TEUs