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Eastern Cape port positions itself to be a hub
2009/3/4
The Ngqura container terminal in the Eastern Cape is being positioned to be a major container hub for sub-Saharan Africa, according to Solly Letsoalo, Transnet Port Terminals chief of operations.
"With growing pressure on the container sector and projections that demand for containerised cargo will double over the next eight years, Transnet has invested in excess of US$760 million to date to position the terminal as SA''s flagship terminal. Its projected end state capacity is two million TEUs. Currently the terminal boasts a capacity of 800,000 TEUs and by 2015 this will increase to 1.5 million TEUs," he told Business Day.
The 60,000ha terminal will include a 16.5m draft alongside the berth, enabling it to accommodate new generation vessels of 8,000 to 9,000 TEUs. Coupled with the quicker cargo handling capacity, faster turnaround times and high density stacking area promised by the terminal''s planned rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) crane operation, this is expected to have significant impact.
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2009/3/5