Port upgrades reach a milestone

TRANSNET National Ports Authority’s (TNPA) six-berth reconstruction project at the Maydon Wharf Precinct in the Port of Durban has reached another milestone with Berth 13 and 14 now deeper and safer for bigger ships calling at the port. Transnet Group Capital (TGC), which is executing this major project on behalf of TNPA, completed work on Berth 13 and 14 within the project’s timeframe which are now fully operational.

Port of Durban manager, Moshe Motlohi said: “The handing over of these two berths marks a great milestone for one of the oldest ports in the country. It talks to safety improvements and revamping of infrastructure which will further enhance the attractiveness and competitiveness of our ports.”

The R1.5 billion project for reconstruction and deepening of six Maydon Wharf Berths 1-4, 13 and 14 was awarded to Stefanutti Stocks AXSYS Joint Venture in 2014.

Once completed the berths will have a draught of 14.5 metres enabling them to handle vessels with draughts up to 13 metres, making these berths the deepest berths in the Port of Durban. However, the Maydon Wharf access channel will still need to be deepening thereafter to enable deeper-draught vessel to sail in fully laden.

Constructed more than 90 years ago, the Maydon Wharf Precinct is one of the oldest cargo terminals and is the largest breakbulk and dry bulk handling precinct in the Port of Durban covering 120 ha of port land. The precinct’s youngest berth is about 42 years old while its oldest berth is 92 years old.

The project  to reconstruct and repair all six berths is expected to be completed by 2018.

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