Durban port dredging moves into top gear

20 Feb 2015 - by Alan Peat

It would appear that four ships
grounding in and just outside the
Port of Durban in recent months have
stirred up a positive reaction from
Transnet National Ports Authority
(TNPA).
FTW queried the authority on this
issue – which had gained Durban
the title of an unsafe port from both
local and foreign master mariners
and line executives – and received the
following answers.
FTW: Is any sounding of the
depths being done at the Port of
Durban? If so, by whom and what
info has become available on the
depths sounded compared to the
charted depths?
TNPA: The port of Durban has a
permanent hydrographer in the port,
and all official soundings are done by
TNPA Dredging Services.
The high spot off the berths N-O
(on a corner of the T-jetty) has been
removed, and these berths are to
(charted) depth.
FTW: Has any dredging been
conducted at the port. If so where,
and to what depths?
TNPA: Yes. At N-O corner, Island
View 2 (IV2) channel, berth 107, and
the sand trap (alongside the north
breakwater). All dredging is done to
get areas back to design depth. These
depths vary throughout the port.
Port of Durban has been authorised
to exceed the current dredging budget
to attend to all urgent/additional
dredging in the port.
FTW: What is the update info
on the dredging of the berths being
upgraded at the container terminals,
and what is the future programme?
TNPA: Please can we get back
to you on this? New info available
shortly.
TNPA: The Italeni has been back
from Maputo since December 24.
Dredging priorities are agreed on
a weekly basis. The area outside –
where the vessel touched ground – is
on the priority list.
The following berths are currently
not to depth: A, N, 102, 107 (despite
dredging – see answer to the second
question). Berths are dredged subject
to dredger availability.
More frequent soundings are being
done in the basin area off berths N-O
to monitor the movement of material.
Maydon Wharf 1 (MW1)
and MW13 are currently under
construction.