The delivery of nine new straddle carriers transported aboard the Chinese-owned Zhen Hua 8 at the Port of East London last Saturday marked a milestone for the port.
The 220m multipurpose, heavy load carrier, with a beam of 42.3 metres, is the widest vessel ever to dock at East London. The port currently has a beam restriction of 32.2 metres and safely docking the massive carrier required “military-precision planning and execution”, with a range of special arrangements and conditions put in place.
“This was a big moment for East London,” said Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) East London port manager Sharon Sijako. “Although this was a once-off concession, it was important for East London to show the rest of the country, and indeed the international shipping fraternity, that we have the expert skill and expertise on hand to safely and efficiently dock vessels of these dimensions.”
She said the entire operation had proceeded smoothly and the straddle carriers would join the current fleet at the container terminal.
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The Zhen Hua 8 discharging the nine straddle carriers at the Port of East London.
