Super Panamax gantries will cater for new generation growth

RAY SMUTS
CAPE TOWN container terminal is expected to handle 480 000 TEU in the 2004/5 financial year, representing growth of 3,5% on the previous year’s volumes - a pattern set to continue.
That was the message from Sapo GM in the ports of Cape Town and Saldanha, Nad Govender, at a media briefing last week.
The shipping industry expects steady throughput growth - in the order of 4% per annum - which will put further demands on capacity and infrastructure of the terminal.
In terms of growth, Govender believes it is important to look at the whole of Africa rather than at South Africa in isolation.
“We do not believe trade with West Africa is going to diminish so we need to make our plans in line with the African Renaissance.”
In order to meet growth projections, the terminal anticipates purchasing eight new Super Panamax ship-to-shore gantry cranes over a six year period, four of which will replace existing Demag cranes which are already 25 years old.
Cape Town port manager Sanjay Govan recently told FTW the projected cost of extending the container terminal had increased significantly from last year’s estimated R400 million to R600 million but Govender has a different take on cost.
“All equipment is foreign, the cost of which is dictated by how the rand performs. At this stage we are working on R800 million; it could go up or down.”