Port of Ngqura sees first ship calling at the harbour this year
In our August 2007 edition we reported on the developments regarding the new US$1.2 billion container terminal at Ngqura deep-water harbour near Port Elizabeth.
Further significant announcements have been made in recent weeks by the state-owned Transnet National Ports Authority:
- Ester Goosen has been appointed as the Port of Ngqura’s first port manager - a position she holds alongside her current role as port manager for Port Elizabeth; and
- The first ship is scheduled to call at the port this year.
Whilst the port is on schedule to open officially by June 2009, the first ships will start arriving from June of this year, resulting in it being in use as a working harbour up to a year before that. The calls to the port in 2008 will deliver special infrastructural equipment, such as ship-to-shore and rubber tyre gantry cranes, and other cargo handling gear.
Transnet has also confirmed placing orders with Southern African Shipyards in Durban to build three large tugs for the new port, which will be fitted with Voith Schneider propellers and said to be more powerful than any currently in service in South Africa. The first of these is scheduled for delivery in late 2009.
Needless to say, staff recruitment and training for the new port is high on Transnet’s agenda and Goosen has reported that a total of 400 to 500 new personnel will be recruited between now and mid 2009 to work at Ngqura, including crane operators, pilots and crew.
As previously reported, Bowman Gilfillan has established an associate office in Port Elizabeth within 20 km of the port and is ideally placed to serve the interests of clients, including shipowners and P&I Clubs, who are most likely going to experience an increase in activity in this part of the world as a result of the developments in the port. Moreover, we are the listed correspondent in Port Elizabeth for several major Clubs within the International Group.
Contact details, including after hours contact details, of Bowman Gilfillan's Port Elizabeth office are:
132 Greenacres Village, Ascot Road, Port Elizabeth, 6045
Tel: + 27 41 582 1436
Fax: + 27 41 582 1435
Mobile: +27 72 235 2194
E-mail : t.gingell@bowman.co.za
Web: http://www.bowman.co.za
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