THE East London Multi-Purpose Terminal (MPT) received its first transshipments in 13 years with the arrival of vessels Hoegh Jeddah and Hoegh London last week. According to Transnet Port Terminals (TPT), the vessels handled a total of 2,405 fully built units (FBUs). This included 1,183 BMW and Nissan FBUs handled for transhipment by each vessel and 39 FBUs for export.
The recent East London N-Berth upgrade, completed in April 2025 at a cost of R60 million, involved deepening and reinforcing the berth to a uniform depth of 10.5 m. The upgrade now allows the simultaneous docking of two new-generation pure car carriers. each over 200 m long. The two car carriers docked at N-berth, and direct transfers were done from one to the other.
“This achievement reflects our unwavering commitment to regional economic growth and to positioning East London as a pivotal player in the maritime and automotive logistics landscape,” says Wandisa Vazi, managing executive at Transnet’s Eastern Cape Terminals. “It sets the stage for new volumes, diversified lines of business, and excellence in service delivery.”
According to Transnet’s Eastern Cape Terminals, the East London MPT is charting a new course, embracing innovation and efficiency in pursuit of sustained relevance and growth in the highly competitive transhipment and automotive markets.
