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Dublin Port takes advantage of trade lull
2009/2/27
The number of ships calling at Durban''s port has declined markedly and some major projects are on hold because of the global recession, but authorities say it''s a perfect time to develop infrastructure to meet future growth demands, the Mercury reported.
Transnet officials said plans to increase cargo traffic coming in and out of the facility were at an advanced stage despite the global recession.
The port said the economic meltdown had affected business.
"The number of vessels being handled has dropped by four percent compared with the same period last year. Gross tonnage is up, but not the number of ships coming into the harbour. It''s scary," said Sipho Nzuza, Transnet''s marketing manager for the Durban port
However, Nzuza said the slow-down created opportunities for development.
"Because there are fewer vessels coming into the harbour, this is a perfect time to work on infrastructure projects ahead of the expected global economic recovery next year."
Assistant port engineer Ronald Wicks said that while the economic climate had resulted in larger projects, such as the US$3 billion Bayhead dig-out port, being deferred because of a lack of funding, others would still go ahead.
"The refurbishment to the floating dry dock is complete. Eight to 10 years ago, we embarked on a phased programme to refurbish the berths at Island View. We are now rebuilding berths six and two at a cost of about $30 million each.
"Conversion of berths one to five for commercial use is under way and funds to extend the bunker barge jetty and modernise bunkering facilities to improve vessel turnaround are still available," he said.
Dave Ward, the deputy port engineer in charge of the widening of the harbour mouth, said the $390.8 million project was running to schedule.
"The project will be finished by March 2010, and soon anything up to 9200 TEU vessels will start calling in - that means ships as high as five-storey buildings above and at least 14 metre below the water line. At the moment, the bigger vessels come in ''light'' but by next year, they will be able to dock fully laden, which will be of huge benefit to Durban''s economy," he said.
Ward said the widening of the harbour was a project that came around once in a hundred years.
"It''s a civil engineering feat that I never thought I would experience in my lifetime."
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2009/2/27