Transnet
The Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has initiated a robust Recovery Plan for its Eastern Cape ports, aiming to advance operations and reinforce the Port of East London, Ngqura, and Port Elizabeth as competitive players within South Africa and beyond.
TNPA is on track with its strategic upgrades, which focus on optimizing port infrastructure utilization and bolstering operational efficiency across its Central Region ports. The state-owned company underscored that the Recovery Plan is pivotal in securing the competitiveness of these central region ports with “robust port operations oversight, delivery of critical infrastructure and investing in reliable marine fleet.”
“Among the strategic initiatives for East London is the deepening and strengthening of the N-berth, the replacement of two Graving Dock Jib Cranes to enable the ship repair facility, and the acquisition of two tugboats. These initiatives are aimed at boosting the river ports marine infrastructure and fleet availability to enable key sectors of the local economy,” TNPA noted in a recent statement.
Excitement surrounds the port city of East London, as TNPA confirmed that the “N-Berth construction project has commenced and will be completed in October 2024.” This project, with its targeted completion date, is set to escalate the automotive terminal’s capacity at the Port of East London, facilitating the berthing of cutting-edge automotive carriers.
Similarly, Port Elizabeth is poised to undergo significant enhancements, including the much-anticipated upgrade to a quay — all part of the larger vision to rejuvenate the local fishing industry in Nelson Mandela Bay.
“The project pipeline for the Port of Port Elizabeth includes the completed upgrade of the 1200-ton slipway and the refurbishment of the Dom Pedro Quay which is planned to commence at the end of February 2024,” revealed the TNPA.
Moreover, the Port of Port Elizabeth will gain from the TNPA’s procurement of eight out of the 52 hydraulic tension units directed at a fleet-wide improvement. These units are part of an earlier TNPA announcement stating the arrival and implementation of the first four hydraulic mooring units at the Ports of Cape Town and Ngqura, aimed at alleviating operational delays and enhancing shipping transactions.
