Six mobile cranes ordered for Durban's port

The cranes are part of TPT's Durban RoRo and Maydon Wharf Terminal's R438.3 million investment in container-handling capacity.

The agreement covers design, fabrication, delivery, erection, testing and commissioning of the cranes.

The terminal, which mainly handles Bulk, Agri-bulk and Roll-On Roll-Off ("RoRo") cargo, has experienced a steady increase in container volumes. These containers are currently handled using vessel-mounted cranes and yard trucks such as reach stackers.

The enhancement in container-handling capacity will complement the Durban Container Terminal's (DCT) existing capacity. Positive spinoffs will include reduction in vessel delays and improved service offering.

The Roro and Maydon Wharf Terminal has two berths at Point in Roro with sufficient draft and quay wall strength to load and off-load containers. Work has commenced at an additional berth identified at Maydon Wharf to prepare it for container handling. This includes strengthening the quay wall and deepening its draft.

Improving infrastructure, facilities

"The investment in these assets is part of our aggressive drive to improve infrastructure and facilities at all our terminals," says Karl Socikwa, chief executive of Transnet Port Terminals.

"During the course of the current financial year, we bought seven tandem lift ship-to shore cranes which will be delivered at the Durban Container Terminal's Pier 2 late in 2012. These are the largest of their kind deployed at any container terminal in the Southern Hemisphere," says Socikwa.

Also, TPT has recently taken delivery of two cranes which are currently being assembled at the Ngqura Container Terminal, adding to the terminal's existing fleet of six mega-max ship-to-shore cranes.

In total, TPT has bought 15 cranes for container-handling throughout its terminals in the last nine months as part of Transnet's accelerated fleet renewal programme - a key element of the Company's efficiency improvement drive.

"Over and above business impact, the contract for the six mobile cranes will contribute to the Department of Public Enterprises' Supplier Development Programme (CSDP). In the contract, we have committed with Liebherr to implement local Supplier Development initiatives for a period of five years to ensure that in future South African companies will have the competence and expertise to manufacture component parts as well as fully-assembled cranes and other specialised maritime equipment. " Socikwa says.

CSDP initiatives agreed upon are the transfer of know-how on the manufacture of capital spares to local companies, job creation and job preservation, skills transfer in respect of the new jobs created directly as a result of this contract and localisation initiatives including the use of local suppliers in Liebherr's supply chain as well as feasibility studies to assess the suitability of local suppliers for the manufacture of capital spares / components.