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DURBAN'S PORT development will take place in three phases.
The first component will start immediately and comprise a R507 million investment in three quayside cranes and 20 new straddle carriers, replacement of equipment in the existing container terminal and improvements to existing infrastructure.
Meeting with
stakeholders
will fine-tune plans
This will increase the terminal capacity from 1.3 million TEUs to 1.6 million TEUs per annum, which will only cater for Durban's capacity requirements for the next few years.
Development of Point docks
Phase 2 will consist of a R564.5 million development of the Point docks between C and L berths. A new 1200-metre long deep-water quay wall with a height of 18.2 metres and extending 200 metres into the bay will be built, creating deep water berths for general cargo handling. About 3 million cubic metres of sand will be required to fill this area. Other terminal infrastructure and layout will be remodelled and new and replacement cargo handling equipment purchased. The combi terminal, which mainly handled breakbulk cargo, will relocate from Pier 1, freeing up Pier 1 for container development.
Included in this phase are opportunities for future expansion of a passenger terminal at the Point, adjacent to the proposed Point Waterfront and the development of a new tug basin sometime in the future.
Pier I will be redesigned at a cost of
R273 million as a container terminal, forming phase 3 of the project and involving the provision of new equipment and the conversion of existing infrastructure. This will add a further
325 000 TEU capacity to the port and increase Durban's container capacity to 1.925 million TEUs annually. This phase is intended to be complete by 2005.
According to the two chief executives of Portnet, Siyabonga Gama of the Port Authority Division and Tau Morwe of the Port Operating Division, Portnet's R1.345 billion commitment confirmed the port's status as the premier container handling facility in Africa. They said the project would have a significant multiplier effect on the city's economy, creating thousands of jobs both during construction and later at the upgraded facilities. The project was also in line with Durban Metro Unicity's recently established long-term development strategy.
Morwe announced that Portnet would hold a meeting within two weeks with major stakeholders to fine-tune the needs of individual clients during the period of upgrade. Portnet had a contingency plan in place in case the upgrade impacted on some operations, he said.
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