Public and private stakeholders have agreed on a series of changes aimed at alleviating congestion and delays for harbour carriers at the Port of Durban. These adjustments primarily target the landside dispatch of containers and are set to be trialed over two weeks, starting from 06h00 on August 16. The changes focus on improving Transnet’s current truck-slot booking system, which has been plagued by IT failures, corruption, and inefficiencies, leading
Category: Ports & Terminals
Port of Beira Sets New Record with 442,000 Tons Processed in July 2024
In July 2024, the Port of Beira’s General Cargo Terminal reached a historic milestone by processing a record-breaking 442,000 tons of cargo. This remarkable achievement reflects a 122% increase compared to the 199,000 tons handled in July 2023, underscoring the port’s growing importance as a major logistical hub in southern Africa. The surge in cargo volume was primarily driven by a significant increase in imports to meet regional and domestic
South Africa’s Ports to Improve Within 14 Months, Transnet Pledges
South Africa’s ports, ranked among the world’s worst, are set for significant improvement within the next 12 to 14 months, according to Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni. She stated that State-owned operator Transnet is committed to fixing the ports, which have been plagued by years of poor governance and infrastructure collapse. Despite challenges, including an energy crisis and a collapsing rail system, the new multi-party government led by President
German Dock Workers Strike Amid Heated Wage Negotiations
German dock workers have launched strikes across the country as wage negotiations between the United Services Union (ver.di) and port operators intensify. Ver.di called for full-shift warning strikes at the Ports of Bremen and Wilhelmshaven on Wednesday and Thursday, while workers at the Ports of Hamburg and Bremerhaven initiated strikes on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Port of Emden saw strikes on Wednesday only. This strike action aims to pressure employers
Volumes at Port of Beira trending upwards
Cold chain volumes in southern Africa are rising as capacity improves and the sector attracts more investment. Marco Grobbelaar, general manager at Independent Beira Logistics Terminals and Services (IBLT&S), reports a notable increase in volumes along the Beira corridor. Competitive landside operations and ocean freight rates compared to surrounding ports are key factors driving this growth. Import volumes of fertilizers and high expectations surrounding them also play a significant role
Trafigura Launches Port Operations at Lobito, Transforming Logistics for the Copperbelt
Multinational commodities trader Trafigura has announced that Angola has received its first vessel at the minerals terminal at the Port of Lobito, a development expected to transform bimodal logistics serving the Copperbelt in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. On July 12, the MV Lindsaylou, a bulk cargo vessel loaded with 40,500 tonnes of sulfur, docked at Lobito, marking the commencement of port operations for the Lobito Atlantic
Namport Expands Lüderitz Bay Port for Green Energy and Oil Investments
Namport is preparing the Port of Lüderitz Bay to support investments in green energy, oil, and gas. The planned infrastructural developments aim to enhance the port’s capacity to accommodate current and future cargo volumes, as well as emerging industries such as green hydrogen, oil, and gas. “The port’s strategic location makes it an ideal hub for oil, gas, and green hydrogen production in Namibia, which is expected to attract more
Container Handling at South African Ports Plummets 30.3% in Just One Week
Transnet is currently facing significant scrutiny following the latest Container Port Performance Index (CPPI), which ranked South Africa’s ports among the lowest of 405 evaluated worldwide. The operational efficiency of these ports has been further compromised by adverse weather conditions. The recent Cargo Movement Update (CMU), prepared by Business Unity South Africa and the South African Association of Freight Forwarders, reported a substantial week-on-week decline in container handling capacity, dropping
Lobito Port Welcomes First Major Shipment to Support DRC Mining Operations
The Port of Lobito Mining Terminal in Benguela welcomed its first large cargo ship on Friday, loaded with 40,500 tons of sulfur to support mining activities in the Katanga area of the Democratic Republic of Congo. According to a press release, the bulk cargo transport ship MV Lindsaylou’s arrival marks the start of port operations by Lobito Atlantic Railway (LAR), the concession company for the Lobito Corridor. The ship was
MPDC Initiates Tender for Maputo Port Container Terminal Expansion
The Maputo Port Development Company (MPDC) has launched a public tender to engage engineering, procurement, and construction firms for the first phase of expanding the Maputo port container terminal, operated by DP World, a multinational logistics company based in the UAE. This expansion, announced in February following the extension of MPDC’s concession contract, aims to double the terminal’s capacity from 255,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) to 530,000 TEUs. According to