Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) is embarking on an ambitious development programme that includes procuring new equipment and expanding capacity at the Cape Town Container Terminal in a bid to enhance operation efficiency.

This was revealed at an engagement between TPT and the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Sacci) on Thursday.

Oscar Borchards, managing executive for Western Cape Terminals, said that TPT was working around the clock to improve efficiency.

“We also need the support of the entire supply chain, whether it be importers or exporters. We from Transnet work 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There’s no rest; we have a four-shift system, and the teams are working flat out,” he said.

Borchards added that they wanted to work together in collaboration with the private sector to ensure that Transnet was successful.

“Only through collaboration can we work together to ensure one common goal. The back of ports is crucial; in particular, rail is important. We are working with the City of Cape Town and the Western Cape Government to look at back of port solutions,” he said.

“By having back of port solutions, it will mitigate peak truck congestion, reduce carbon footprint, and optimize reefer deliveries in off-peak periods.”

Borchards said that the port was looking at building additional reefer capacity for refrigerated goods and to build agility.

“To build additional reefer capacity, we would need private sector participation and two additional generators. We need to build agility to improve response time to challenges in the supply chain through interregional vessel and volume diversions to Cape Town Multi-Purpose Terminal.”

TPT is expecting new equipment to improve port efficiency to be delivered from the end of March 2025 to May 2026.

These include 28 Rubber-Tyred Gantry to be delivered from the end of March to next year. The first nine will be delivered from the end of March to August 2025.

TPT is also expecting seven ship-to-shore cranes that will be delivered from April 2025 all the way to May 2026.

Borchards said that they were planning to increase Cape Town Container Terminal landside capacity expansion.

“Currently, berthing capacity of 1.4 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) at the Cape Town Container Terminal exceeds landside terminal capacity of 1 million TEUs,” he said.

“With significant demand for capacity at the terminal, Transnet will be aligning terminal and berthing capacity to 1.4 million TEUs, and in line with this, enabling functions such as truck staging facilities and associated processes will be upgraded, modernised, and capacity expanded.”

Borchards said this will support Transnet’s strategy, with the Port of Cape Town supporting and playing a feed role to the hub port at the Port of Durban.

“Re-alignment of the rail infrastructure to support efficiencies driving the migration of volumes to rail is a key consideration,” he said.

According to TPT, the Cape Town Multipurpose Terminal will be developed into an agricultural hub. Borchards said it will handle barley, wheat grain, and rice.

“We want to grow container business and repurpose terminals' complementary container capability operations to CTCT to service agricultural citrus and deciduous fruit linked to the hinterland.”

The Saldanha Iron Ore Terminal remains the largest iron ore export facility in Africa and is South Africa’s only dedicated iron ore terminal.

Borchards said that Saldanha Iron Ore Terminal has achieved a number of operational achievements.

“The current monthly offloading record for the terminal is 5.7 million tons. The 24-hour offloading record is 240 564 tons. Monthly export volume record stands at 5.5 million tons. The 24-hour export record is 246 776 tons. The highest average monthly loading rate achieved is 8 924 tons per hour,” he said.

“Record loading rates achieved on a single vessel stand at 11 749 tons per hour. The largest single consignment loaded totals 319 000 tons on the Global Harmony during August 2019. To date, more than 1.4 billion tons of iron ore have been exported through this terminal.”

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Transnet Port Terminals lays out ambitious plans for Cape Town's port improvements