TRANSNET group chief executive Brian Molefe said the recent R700-million investment in the Durban Container Terminal (DCT) will be complementary to the ports of East London and Ngqura.
Molefe was speaking to the Daily Dispatch in Durban following the launch of new “state-of-the- art” ship-to-shore cranes by Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba on Monday.
Touted to boost the productivity of South African ports at the Durban Container Terminal (DCT), the cranes sourced from Chinese company ZPMC were procured as part of Transnet's R300- billion seven-year Market Demand Strategy (MDS) and are said to be the biggest cranes in the Southern hemisphere.
Gigaba said the new equipment could simultaneously handle two 12-metre containers or four six-metre containers and lift up to a maximum of 80 tons. They are the biggest in Africa and can handle new generation vessels with 24 containers stowed across the deck.
“These capabilities will see a massive jump in productivity with gross crane moves per hour (GCH) – a key measure of terminal efficiency and how well equipment is used – jumping from the current 26 to 33 GCH over the next three years. This is a 27% improvement. Efficiency will therefore in the medium- to long-term reduce the cost of doing business.”
The Durban investment comes as the Border- Kei Chamber of Business (BKCOB) executive director Les Holbrok decried the neglect of the East London port , saying there was not enough investment in either resources or infrastructure.
Holbrook said lack of investment and a focused business model in the East London port has resulted in the city trailing behind in attracting business and development.
“We are concerned about the under-investment when it comes to East London and we would like to see more shipping activity and more depth in the port to accommodate bigger ships so that we can have more business done out of East London port.
“The business model for East London changes all the time and business is not sure what Transnet wants to focus on. Initially the car terminal was supposed to be only in East London but now there is one in Durban,” said Holbrook.
Molefe said there were plans under way to improve operations in both Eastern Cape ports and added that an investment in any of Transnet’s ports had a positive impact on the others.
“ We have already bought cranes for the Port of Ngqura to be delivered around January 2014. For Ngqura to be viable it means proper volumes coming in so some of the trans-shipment that happens in Durban can then go to Ngqura. These cranes have an impact on the entire port system in South Africa,” said Molefe.
“We will also change the layout for the port of East London. We have started exporting coal from East London and our capacity to export cars to the port of East London will be improved.”
Asked how many jobs will be created through the proposed changes in the Eastern Cape ports, Molefe said Transnet's MDS would have a massive economy-wide job creation impact over a seven-year period. “The MDS will create 280000 economy-wide jobs, not just in Durban,” said Molefe. “We have already employed 400 in the port of Durban as in line with this new investment and this is just the first instalment,” Molefe said. —
Cranes to boost ports
Molefe was speaking to the Daily Dispatch in Durban following the launch of new “state-of-the- art” ship-to-shore cranes by Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba on Monday.
Touted to boost the productivity of South African ports at the Durban Container Terminal (DCT), the cranes sourced from Chinese company ZPMC were procured as part of Transnet's R300- billion seven-year Market Demand Strategy (MDS) and are said to be the biggest cranes in the Southern hemisphere.
Gigaba said the new equipment could simultaneously handle two 12-metre containers or four six-metre containers and lift up to a maximum of 80 tons. They are the biggest in Africa and can handle new generation vessels with 24 containers stowed across the deck.
“These capabilities will see a massive jump in productivity with gross crane moves per hour (GCH) – a key measure of terminal efficiency and how well equipment is used – jumping from the current 26 to 33 GCH over the next three years. This is a 27% improvement. Efficiency will therefore in the medium- to long-term reduce the cost of doing business.”
The Durban investment comes as the Border- Kei Chamber of Business (BKCOB) executive director Les Holbrok decried the neglect of the East London port , saying there was not enough investment in either resources or infrastructure.
Holbrook said lack of investment and a focused business model in the East London port has resulted in the city trailing behind in attracting business and development.
“We are concerned about the under-investment when it comes to East London and we would like to see more shipping activity and more depth in the port to accommodate bigger ships so that we can have more business done out of East London port.
“The business model for East London changes all the time and business is not sure what Transnet wants to focus on. Initially the car terminal was supposed to be only in East London but now there is one in Durban,” said Holbrook.
Molefe said there were plans under way to improve operations in both Eastern Cape ports and added that an investment in any of Transnet’s ports had a positive impact on the others.
“ We have already bought cranes for the Port of Ngqura to be delivered around January 2014. For Ngqura to be viable it means proper volumes coming in so some of the trans-shipment that happens in Durban can then go to Ngqura. These cranes have an impact on the entire port system in South Africa,” said Molefe.
“We will also change the layout for the port of East London. We have started exporting coal from East London and our capacity to export cars to the port of East London will be improved.”
Asked how many jobs will be created through the proposed changes in the Eastern Cape ports, Molefe said Transnet's MDS would have a massive economy-wide job creation impact over a seven-year period. “The MDS will create 280000 economy-wide jobs, not just in Durban,” said Molefe. “We have already employed 400 in the port of Durban as in line with this new investment and this is just the first instalment,” Molefe said. —
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