Nicola Jenvey

KwaZulu-Natal Correspondent

Speaking to media after an inspection of the harbour, Erwin said government was negotiating with Durban-based Toyota and other vehicle manufacturers to ensure the expansion would be complete within two years.

Completed and opened last year with facilities to accommodate 3500 vehicles, the terminal already operates at full capacity. Its further expansion is one part of a larger plan to expand facilities at the southern hemisphere’s busiest port.

Yesterday Erwin, Transnet CEO Maria Ramos and National Ports Authority CEO Khomotso Phihlela undertook their first tour of the country’s seven ports.

Erwin also said a masterplan that outlines the future growth of Durban harbour could not yet be released. The department required a commitment from Transnet for the necessary spending before the plan was made public.

Ramos said government wanted to see greater co-operation between Transnet and its two ports units, the National Ports Authority and South African Port Operations.

The authority is in charge of the land the port occupies and some facilities including tugs, while port operations controls services, such as the container terminals, which have been earmarked for eventual privatisation.

The port, and particularly the container terminal, have been bedevilled by delays and congestion.

A multimillion-rand upgrade and expansion project is alleviating some of these problems. This project includes doubling the container facilities.

Phihlela said the arrival later this year of another three cranes at the container terminal would further boost efficiency, after three Liebherr cranes were bought last year.