Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has applied for pre-approval to reclaim 22.4 hectares of land from coastal waters to create additional capacity for a new container terminal at the Port of Durban.
Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Willie Aucamp, published details of TNPA’s application in the Government Gazette on Friday.
According to the notice, TNPA wishes to “expand the Durban port and position it as a premier container hub port in the region”, with the aim of increasing capacity to between 10 and 11 million TEUs.
The proposed reclamation lies between the existing Point multipurpose terminal quay wall and the new Point Container Terminal quay wall in the Point precinct.
The ports authority will require approximately four million cubic metres of infill material, primarily sourced from an authorised offshore sand winning site near the port entrance. Additional material, if needed, may come from extending the existing site or a new alternative location.
TNPA aims to convert areas D-G in the Point Precinct into a single facility known as the Point Container Terminal. The reclaimed land will support:
- A new quay wall, berthing for container vessels
- Infrastructure that accommodates ultra-large container ships (ULCS)
- Operating harbour cranes
- Stacking containers
- The availability of land and water areas for future expansion
The proposal forms part of the broader KZN Ports Master Plan, which seeks to reconfigure the ports of Durban and Richards Bay to establish Durban as a Container Hub Port for international container traffic, benefiting South Africa and southern Africa.
“The TNPA aims to upgrade the existing Port of Durban infrastructure, including deepening berths, expanding container terminals and improving the rail links to the port,” the notice reads.
It notes the ports authority aims to expand port capacity ahead of demand and reduce business costs to keep the economy competitive.
According to the notice, the reclamation process will involve dredging and infilling activities, which “may affect benthic sediments and increase turbidity. Fish stocks entering the harbour may be temporarily impacted”.
The pre-approval application is open for public comment for 60 days and is available here or on request from reclamation@dffe.gov.za.
