Port Elizabeth’s Major Harbour Equipment Upgrade

Transnet has displayed a growing drive to increase capacity across South Africa and has recently made sure Port Elizabeth receives a number of equipment upgrades. Nelson Mandela Bay has been informed that there is much more to come!
 
Transnet has recently undergone a rebranding strategy. Now, part of the company‘s main focus has been to concentrate on the freight area of its business. This focus includes rail, ports as well as pipelines businesses. In addition, the company has been investing in the capacity and productivity of its businesses.

It has recently been revealed that an abundance of old equipment is being replaced in Port Elizabeth. New equipment, including cranes, will be brought in. 9 new straddle carriers, used to pick up containers, have already been purchased over the past year and a further 11 have been ordered and are due to be delivered in the Nelson Mandela Bay this financial year. 9 of these straddles will be utilised at the Port Elizabeth terminal, while the remainder would be used for the Port of Ngqura at Coega.

Another large crane is on order and will be delivered and fully commissioned by February next year.

An additional 220 reefer points are currently under construction to cater for the growth at the Nelson Mandela Bay harbour. In addition, parking has doubled from 2 000 to 4 000 bays at the car terminal.

Even though smaller than those in Durban and Cape Town, the Port Elizabeth container terminal has continued to grow and in July handled over 41 362 containers. This amount is the highest in its 30-year history!

Of course, expenditure on equipment is useless unless there is a sufficient amount of trained people to work with the technology.  Therefore, Port Elizabeth has seen 19 apprenticeships been awarded, 3 trainee engineers are receiving training and 3 managers have had international exposure.

This year, Transnet Port Terminals will receive its biggest capital expenditure budget yet, at approximately R3,4 billion! Transnet capital expenditure for the next 5 years will be approximately R78 billion. R6 billion will be spent on the Port of Ngqura alone. The moving of the manganese ore dumps and tank farms from the Port Elizabeth harbour to Coega will also include an additional R4 billion. Rail will use most of the 5 year capital expenditure budget at 45% or R34,8 billion.

The Nelson Mandela Bay continues to receive an increasing interest in property developments and upgrades.