Deeper draught on the cards as larger vessels sail in

Equipment and draught factors
at the Pier 2 Durban container
terminal (DCT) are currently
hindering the efficient operation
of company ships at the terminal’s
berths, according to Glenn
Delve, marketing director of the
Mediterranean Shipping Company
(MSC).
“The main factors at the
terminal that are affecting us are
the equipment on berths 200 and
202 where MSC is calling,” he
told FTW. “The gantry cranes,
for example, are 30 years old,
and rather slow in the loading/
unloading procedure.
“But there are plans to replace
these units with new cranes,
and we are assured that the
intentions of the port authorities
are for this to be rectified in the
foreseeable future.”
Another factor is the draught
considerations alongside the berths
and on the outgoing channel.
The problem is that MSC has
the largest vessel calling at the
Port of Durban, and the post-
Panamax container ship, the
8 500-TEU capacity MSC Meva,
has a maximum draught of
14.5 metres – well over the current
depth of the inner harbour.
“But,” said Delve, “we have
had excellent co-operation from
Transnet Port Terrminals (TPT)
and Transnet National Ports
Authority (TNPA), allowing us
to sail our vessels on the tide at
increased draught.
“Although we have to shortload
the Meva, she can sail with a
draught of 13m at high water.”
And again, Delve has been
assured by the port authorities that
dredging is soon to take place,
and the eventual aim is to dredge
out the inner harbour to take a
maximum draught of 15m.
“This solution of the deepening
of the berths and the entry/exit
channel will allow the 14.5-m
Meva to sail at maximum draught.
“It also fits in with our
intentions to have continued calls
of this magnitude, combined with
consideration of other global links
via Durban on services currently
not calling Durban.”