Port introduces water saving rules
New measures implemented at Port of Richards Bay to conserve water.
AS Richards Bay suffers its worst drought in 50 years, new rules have been implemented to eliminate excessive water use during port operations.
Transnet Ports Terminals (TPT) notified port users that conveyor belts transferring goods to and from vessels will no longer all be washed down as a safety requisite.
Conveyors now have a ‘dry run’ between loading and discharging of different commodity types, with the exception of particular products posing contamination risks.
‘Washing will only be considered on a case-by-case basis,’ TPT said.
Richards Bay Port Engineer Basil Ngcobo said the municipality requested that water be conserved at the harbour while the City of uMhulathuze ‘comes up with a full water strategy for the City’ within the next six months.
‘By April to May next year, the problem should be resolved,’ Ngcobo said.
