Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) is set to launch a pilot project that will see an antisway system installed on all of the Port of Cape Town’s rubber tyre gantry (RTG) cranes. According to Tonny Mhondiwa, acting senior manager of projects at TPT, this is part of a bigger wind strategy at the port which is often severely hampered by weather conditions. In December port operations were halted for more than 400 hours due to heavy winds. “All of the governance approval processes have been completed for the RTG antisway project,” he said. “This project – with a budget of just over R8 million – kicks off in the 2018/19 financial year with the modification of the first three RTGs in April.” Expected to be completed by October, the installation of the anti-sway system on the three cranes will be a pilot to determine the viability of installation across the terminal operator’s fleet. “If successful the roll-out will continue and by October 2019 all 28 of the RTGs will have been fitted with antisway systems that will improve spreader stability so that the cranes are able to operate efficiently at wind speeds greater than 72km per hour.” Also part of the wind strategy, said Mhondiwa, was the transfer of an underutilised Liebherr 550 mobile crane from East London to Cape Town. “This will improve operational efficiency and give muchneeded relief to the existing mobile cranes for critical maintenance activities.” He said the estimated delivery of this crane was June this year. “We are currently finalising the procurement strategy.” The port is also embarking on a capacity development strategy in coming months that includes the SACD resurfacing and Phase 2B of the container terminal expansion plan. “The surfacing of the unused site at SACD is a relatively small investment in terms of money at only R863 459, but it is going to have a major impact on our capacity as it will be able to temporarily cater for an additional stacking facility of at least 500 containers.” He said this project went hand in hand with Phase 2B – the terminal’s expansion plan which is expected to be completed by 2021. “We started surfacing at SACD in October and expect it to be completed by the end of February,” he said. “This will tide us over until the expansion of the terminal is completed.” Despite lower volumes in 2017 the port will continue with its expansion which will see capacity rise from one million TEUs to 1.4 million. This plan includes resurfacing of Long Quay 350 and 360, coastal berth 370 and 380 and building a new truck staging area. The upgrades come in at a whopping R44 million. Mhondiwa said governance approval processes were in their final stages with construction expected to start no later than October next year
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The installation of the anti-sway system on the three cranes will be a pilot to determine the viability of installation across the terminal operator’s fleet. – Tonny Mhondiwa
