Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has acquired eight hydraulic shore tension mooring units aimed at boosting container shipping efficiencies at its ports in Cape Town, Durban and Ngqura.
According to TNPA, the latest acquisition forms part of its ongoing port infrastructure development programme, which seeks to improve the safety of vessels and cargo-handling operations during adverse weather conditions. It also supports Transnet’s strategic pursuit of aligning its freight logistics business with key commodities to boost the economy.
“The country’s container sector is showing steady growth, particularly driven by agricultural exports. From April to December 2025, TNPA recorded a container volume throughput of approximately 3.4million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), which is 2.3% above budget for the period,” the ports authority said.
TNPA anticipates continued growth, forecasting a surge in container volume throughput to reach 4.5million TEUs against an annual budget of 4.4m TEUs in the 2025/26 financial year.
A hydraulic tension unit – 7.4m long, 0.58m wide and with a height of 2m – is designed to securely moor large and newer vessels using high-strength lines. This helps to ensure the safety of vessels alongside the berth to facilitate improved productivity over the quay.
Of the eight units delivered, four are operational at the Port of Cape Town’s container berths, while the ports of Ngqura and Durban each received two units, which are nearing the end of the commissioning stage.
The delivery brings the total number of units that TNPA has taken delivery of so far to 32 units from a planned acquisition of 52 units, with the Port of Cape Town receiving the highest number of 14 units.
“At an investment of R534million, port operations are poised to reduce delays in vessel movements,” the ports authority said.
TNPA acting chief executive Mohammed Abdool welcomed the delivery.
“These critical marine mooring assets come at a crucial time to respond to climate change, which results in strong winds of 35 to 50 knots and high sea swells exceeding 3.5 metres in our ports.
“TNPA’s investment in reliable port assets is vital to meeting the growing demand for container movements and increasing the value of service for customers. This initiative aims to improve the ease of doing business for shipping lines and terminal operators, ultimately improving the turnaround time for cargo handling,” he said.
