The Port of East London has completed a major R60 million upgrade to its automotive terminal, marking a significant milestone in regional growth and development.
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The Port of East London has completed a major R60 million upgrade to its automotive terminal, marking a significant milestone in regional growth and development.
In a statement released to the media on Wednesday, the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) said the upgrades "will bring needed efficiency improvement, expansion of port capacity and an increase in automotive volume throughput".
TNPA also confirmed that the new investment successfully addressed inconsistencies in berth depth, ensuring all berths along the West Quay are now -10.5m (CD) in depth, with a total length of 550m.
This improvement enables the Port of East London to simultaneously accommodate two new-generation automotive vessels, each greater than 200m in length. These vessels are currently the largest pure car carriers in the world fleet.
"The Port of East London now boasts a doubled design berth capacity to handle 790,000 automotive units per year. This project reinforces the port’s status as a crucial hub for the automotive industry in South Africa.
"The deepening and strengthening of the automotive berth (N-Berth) project is part of TNPA’s Capital Investment Programme and is underpinned by Transnet's strategy which focuses on realigning its business with strategic sectors of the South African economy. This strategy promotes investment in infrastructure that is fit for the purpose of improving the competitiveness of port operations," the statement read.
Acting TNPA Chief Executive, Phyllis Difeto said that the commissioning of the automotive terminal berth was a key step in realising the port's potential as a critical node in the transport network, while also responding to global shipping demands.
"The strengthening and deepening of the berth provide an opportunity for increased investment, further positioning the Port of East London to effectively service the global economy," she said.
IOL Business
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