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