The opening to traffic
of a dedicated
2.5 km freight
road leading
around the back of port in
Maputo at the end of 2015
marked another milestone
on the road to improving
efficiencies within the port.
The gate entrance has
been reconfigured and
trucks are routed around
the back of the port so that
they do not interfere with
quayside operations.
An average of 608 trucks
a day enters the port,
according to Johann Botha,
commercial director of the
Maputo Port Development
Company (MPDC).
Trucks now load and
offload at the back of
dedicated bulk terminals,
each of which has its own
weighbridges at the haul
road and quayside gates.
According to Botha the
“terminalisation” of the port
of Maputo is now over 80%
complete, with expansion of
the container and another
bulk terminal pending.
“Terminalisation” has
divided the port into
dedicated areas for each
type of cargo it handles.
MPDC is at the same time
upgrading the quays and rail
infrastructure.
Work on an extension of
the phosphate discharge
railway, which will improve
the shunting of phosphate
wagons, has started.
Berths 5 and 11 are being
upgraded, with the existing
broken pavements being
replaced by reinforced
concrete heavy duty
pavement.
The installation of new
jersey barriers and fence
have already been completed
at Berth 11.
With the upgrade of
Berth 11 complete, work has
started on Berth 5.
It will be phased to
minimise the impact
on port operations,
according to Botha.
Contractors are expected
to be on site for seven
months, which includes
provision for delays caused
by the rainy season.
CAPTION
The upgraded Berth 5 in the Port of Maputo.
