DURBAN — Transnet, the state-owned enterprise responsible for maintaining South Africa’s freight transport and handling infrastructure, is implementing several urgent interventions to address the significant backlogs at the Port of Durban and alleviate congestion at Richards Bay.
According to South African Government News Agency, Transnet has identified several factors contributing to the backlog at the Port of Durban, including adverse weather conditions and limited availability of essential equipment. Transnet Board Chairperson, Andile Sangqu, acknowledged that port congestion is a complex issue resulting from years of underinvestment in equipment and its maintenance. He emphasized that efforts to resolve these issues would require time, with lead times for some equipment ranging from 12 to 18 months. Sangqu assured that the team is diligently working to procure necessary equipment to align the port facilities with global best practices.
The organization detailed the urgent interventions currently underway to improve slow turnaround times affecting docking and offloading of containers. At Pier 2, the objective is to increase container handling from 2,500 to 4,000 containers per day over the next three months. Under normal conditions, Pier 2 handles around 3,300 containers daily, but this number has recently dropped to 2,500 due to weather and equipment challenges. At Pier 1, the target is to raise the tempo from 1,200 to 1,500 containers per day.
Transnet’s recovery plan includes the acquisition of 16 rubber-tyred gantry cranes for Pier 1 by the second half of 2025 and four ship-to-shore cranes for South Quay at Pier 2 in the 2025/26 financial year. Additionally, refurbishment and maintenance of critical port equipment at both Piers 1 and 2 are in progress, with completion expected by August 2024.
Michelle Phillips, Transnet’s acting CEO, stated that port terminal management and industrial engineers from the task team are working tirelessly to maximize berth performance. With these initiatives, the expected timeline to clear the backlog is seven weeks for Pier 1 and 15 weeks for Pier 2. These measures are anticipated to significantly improve container traffic flow through the port.
Phillips also emphasized the importance of stabilizing operations through short-term interventions while continuing with the broader Recovery Plan to enhance Transnet’s operations. This comprehensive plan aims to ensure significant and sustainable improvements, particularly in rail and port operations.
Additionally, an emergency meeting with stakeholders has been convened to address road congestion at the Port of Richard’s Bay.