TRANSNET National Ports Authority (TNPA) says it is forging ahead with implementation of the recovery plan, at its ports of East London, Ngqura and Port Elizabeth.
According to TNPA managing executive for the central region ports, Siyabulela Mhlaluka, TNPA’s strategic move is to ensure the competitiveness of the central region ports by prioritising the improvement of port efficiencies through robust port operations oversight, delivery of critical infrastructure and investing in reliable marine fleet.
The TNPA recovery Plan framework is aligned with the Transnet Group’s overall plan, which aims to improve operations and financial sustainability whilst ensuring operational efficiency improvements across the business over an 18-month timeframe to the end of the 2024/2025 financial year.
Among the strategic initiatives for East London is the deepening and strengthening of the N- berth, the replacement of two graving dock jib cranes to enable the ship repair facility and the acquisition of two tugboats. These initiatives are aimed at boosting the river port’s marine infrastructure and fleet availability to enable key sectors of the local economy.
The N-Berth construction project has commenced and will be completed in October 2024. Within this project, TNPA seeks to increase the berth capacity of the automotive terminal of the Port of East London and allow for berthing of modern automotive carriers.
At the Port of Ngqura, TNPA is already seeing the benefits of two of six additional hydraulic tension mooring units which have been delivered and operationalised to curb shipping delays caused by inclement weather conditions.
In line with the central region’s focus on enabling the local fishing industry in Nelson Mandela Bay, the project pipeline for the Port of Port Elizabeth includes the completed upgrade of the 1200-ton slipway and the refurbishment of the Dom Pedro Quay which is planned to commence at the end of February 2024. The port will also benefit from eight of the 52 hydraulic tension units that TNPA has procured for its ports.
