Two pure car carriers berthed simultaneously at the Port of East London’s newly upgraded automotive berth last week.
Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) said the berthing was an iconic moment for the port.
“This operational milestone showcases the port’s recent milestone celebration of upgrading its automotive berth to allow for the simultaneous berthing of two new-generation pure car carrier vessels greater than 200m along the west quay,” said TNPA.
“These are currently the largest pure car carriers in the world fleet. The upgrade has doubled the automotive berth’s design capacity to handle 790 000 units per year.”
The two vessels, MV Silver Sun, 182.71m long, and MV Martorell Ace at 199.54m, docked along the West Quay, which now has a depth of 10.7m and a total length of 550m.
“The seamless berthing of these two car carriers reinforces the Port of East London’s status as a crucial hub for the automotive industry,” TNPA said.
“As part of an ongoing turnaround plan, the Port of East London continues to collaborate with terminal operators and customers to ensure the provision of fit-for-purpose port infrastructure.”
TNPA said the latest operational highlight demonstrated its commitment to enabling automotive volume recovery and improving operational efficiency.
