Transnet, South African state-owned custodian of ports, rails and pipelines, will spend US$464 million on deepening and lengthening berths at Durban’s container terminal, to enable it to host bigger vessels.
It plans to complete the upgrade by 2023 due to ‘a critical need to provide modern, safe, deeper and longer container berths to accommodate the ever-increasing size of container vessels we are now servicing’, according to Krishna Reddy, Transnet chief capital officer. As reported by Reuters, the project will impact berths 203 to 205.
While helping to sustain existing container operations at the north quay, the project will result in the port being able to host newer-generation vessels.
Currently, ships with a capacity of 9 200 TEU and larger fill two berths at the north quay, resulting in delays and queues at outer anchorage. Meanwhile larger vessels are able to enter at high tide only.
