Despite having an 800km coastline and three national seaports, the Eastern Cape province remains hobbled in the extent to which it derives economic value from the ocean, and the provincial department of transport says it is time to implement long-standing plans.
The department has published an integrated strategy on developing the offshore economy through landslide infrastructure, including refurbishing East London port, redeveloping Port St Johns and upgrading overland provincial transport routes.
The strategy document also calls for reinvestment into the East London and Hamburg aquaculture development zones, alongside revamping of the Coega and Algoa zones.
Hatcheries for aquaculture have also been developed in Mthatha, Tsolo and King William’s Town.
National government, through legislation and international protocols, has offshore authority and responsibility for managing the country’s ports.
Operation Phakisa is also a national strategy to fast-track initiatives within the ocean economy. But the provincial strategy points to opportunities for leveraging the Eastern Cape’s strengths as a coastal province.
Department spokesman Ncedo Kumbaca says a key part of the strategy is restoring East London port to its former glory as a centre for ship maintenance and repairs.
He says the national Phakisa programme will also ensure the redevelopment of Port St Johns as a maritime node.
This will happen alongside developments at small harbours at Port Alfred and Port St Francis to promote fishing, aquaculture and tourism.
The provincial strategy highlights potential labour-intensive industries focused on boat-building and repairs, coastal and maritime tourism, fishing and aquaculture development, freight logistics and utilising inland waterways.
Despite the existing provincial strengths like three seaports and industrial development zones geared to export manufacturing, the strategy points to the absence of major transport corridors linking the Eastern Cape coastline with the country’s hinterland.
If economic expansion is to be realised, the department says “seamless maritime supply chains between foreign origins or destinations and the interior of South Africa will be essential”.
This would benefit East London port’s Ro-Ro (roll on, roll off) and other facilities, which currently have spare capacity which could be used.
“The provincial road network does not fully support the ocean economy as some roads are in a very bad condition and damages the cargo that is meant for exports such as citrus fruit (and) cars.”
The strategy envisages the establishment of a maritime institute as a key step in research, innovation and training to exploit the ocean.
The strategy, which is currently being finalised, also highlights the negative impact on socioeconomic development of environmental trade-offs, citing the curbs on growing and exporting certain aquaculture species which are regarded as environmental threats.
However, current aquaculture policies also provide opportunities for the province to invest in projects on inland dams and rivers, the department says.
Rethinking value of EC ocean
The department has published an integrated strategy on developing the offshore economy through landslide infrastructure, including refurbishing East London port, redeveloping Port St Johns and upgrading overland provincial transport routes.
The strategy document also calls for reinvestment into the East London and Hamburg aquaculture development zones, alongside revamping of the Coega and Algoa zones.
Hatcheries for aquaculture have also been developed in Mthatha, Tsolo and King William’s Town.
National government, through legislation and international protocols, has offshore authority and responsibility for managing the country’s ports.
Operation Phakisa is also a national strategy to fast-track initiatives within the ocean economy. But the provincial strategy points to opportunities for leveraging the Eastern Cape’s strengths as a coastal province.
Department spokesman Ncedo Kumbaca says a key part of the strategy is restoring East London port to its former glory as a centre for ship maintenance and repairs.
He says the national Phakisa programme will also ensure the redevelopment of Port St Johns as a maritime node.
This will happen alongside developments at small harbours at Port Alfred and Port St Francis to promote fishing, aquaculture and tourism.
The provincial strategy highlights potential labour-intensive industries focused on boat-building and repairs, coastal and maritime tourism, fishing and aquaculture development, freight logistics and utilising inland waterways.
Despite the existing provincial strengths like three seaports and industrial development zones geared to export manufacturing, the strategy points to the absence of major transport corridors linking the Eastern Cape coastline with the country’s hinterland.
If economic expansion is to be realised, the department says “seamless maritime supply chains between foreign origins or destinations and the interior of South Africa will be essential”.
This would benefit East London port’s Ro-Ro (roll on, roll off) and other facilities, which currently have spare capacity which could be used.
“The provincial road network does not fully support the ocean economy as some roads are in a very bad condition and damages the cargo that is meant for exports such as citrus fruit (and) cars.”
The strategy envisages the establishment of a maritime institute as a key step in research, innovation and training to exploit the ocean.
The strategy, which is currently being finalised, also highlights the negative impact on socioeconomic development of environmental trade-offs, citing the curbs on growing and exporting certain aquaculture species which are regarded as environmental threats.
However, current aquaculture policies also provide opportunities for the province to invest in projects on inland dams and rivers, the department says.
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