TNPA invites industry to help shape future ports

The Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has called for input from its stakeholders on the future expansion and development of the seven South African ports. Submissions have been invited as the TNPA outlines its proposals through a national road show. According to chief planning officer Nimi Ramchand, the plans are updated annually in order to accommodate changes in trade f lows and technology. The larger vessels and new generation of handling equipment are forcing TNPA to either deepen its ports or to build new harbours, such as the proposed Durban dig-out port. Senior manager capacity planning, Desmond Simpson, says expansion of the “older ports” such as Durban, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town is restricted by the proximity of the town development to the harbours. While Richards Bay has the draught to accommodate the largest of vessels, plans for its expansion have been put on hold in the short term. Over the medium term berths may be added to accommodate the smaller (or junior) mining companies and bulk liquids. Over the long term, there is room for “major expansion”, which would include container berths and a liquid natural gas (LNG) facility. Durban will remain the “premier gateway” for South Africa, with the prospect over the medium term of an infill being created on Salisbury Island, which would add 1.8 million TEUs of capacity to the port. Once the work on the berths along Maydon Wharf is complete, Durban will have seven berths for deeper and longer vessels. There are also prospects of freeing up back-of-port land for facilities to stuff and destuff containers. Over the “very long term” TNPA could take over the Bayhead marshalling yard in order to install a “slick rail system” that links the quayside, back of port and transit activities. The planning also takes into consideration the possibility of the Mthombo oil refinery being built in the Coega Industrial Development Zone. One scenario is where a second pipeline is built to Gauteng from Coega, and the second where refined Mthombo products are transhipped to Durban. Plans for the dig-out port are in their early stages. One scenario would see the building of 16 additional container berths in four separate container terminals, as well as a vehicle facility primarily for Toyota and BMW. One of the main challenges is the relocation of the single-buoy mooring, which would be directly in the line of shipping. Moving down the coast, the expansion of East London is inhibited by the narrowness of the river and the granite bottom of the harbour. Blasting would be both expensive and environmentally unfriendly. Over the long term there is the possibility of building a container terminal at the mouth where the water is deeper. At present the volumes do not justify the expenditure. At Ngqura a third berth is being brought on stream to bring the capacity up to two million TEUs, and there are plans for the building of a facility to accommodate oil rigs. Work has already been carried out on a number of rigs in the port of Ngqura. Over the medium to long term additional bulk and container berths can be added along the palaeontology channel up the Coega River. This will, however, depend on the plans for the two Durban ports and for Port Elizabeth where a deep-water facility could be added on the eastern side of the main container quay. At present the port is being prepared to handle bulk manganese exports and liquid bulk imports after the manganese ore dump and tank farm are moved from Port Elizabeth. This will free up land for a specialised car terminal capable of handling up to 450 000 units a year, with adjacent value-adding facilities. Over the medium term Port Elizabeth will remain a “niche service complementing Ngqura”. The development of Mossel Bay is severely restricted by lack of space, and investment is focused on supporting PetroSA’s needs. Over the medium term there are plans for additional container and bulk liquid handling facilities. Describing Saldanha as his personal “favourite port”, Simpson said there were plans for an oil rig berth at the port, as well as expansion of the ore export facilities and LNG and oil capacity. There was potential for further expansion as it had a 25-metre draft. The Port Nolloth jetty is being rehabilitated to accommodate fishing vessels, and research is being done into other possibilities for the port. INSERT & CAPTION Expansion of the “older ports” such as Durban, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town is restricted by the proximity of the town development to the harbours. – Desmond Simpson