SOUTH AFRICA : NEW 80 TON BOLLARDS IMPROVE PORT’S SHIP TURNAROUND TIME
The recently commissioned 80-ton bollards valued at R2.1million at Transnet National Ports Authority’s (TNPA) Port of East London are yielding good operational results, with the port recording a ship turnaround time of 14 hours against a target of 17 hours in the 2022/23 financial year ending March 2023.
The construction of the two 80-ton bollards commenced in November 2022 and is one of the capital investment projects that TNPA has planned in line with the Port of East London Growth Strategy.
“The completion of this project is exciting as the new bollards allow the automotive terminal to safely and comfortably moor Ro-Ro vessels of 200 meter in length and above at R-extension berth.” said TNPA Port Manager, Mr. Sphiwe Mthembu.
Mthembu confirmed that now that the bollards have been commissioned, all Ro-Ro vessel that will ordinarily be docked at S-berth are now being accommodated at R-extension which has drastically improved the performance of the terminal. Vessels are now loaded quicker due to the reduced traveling distance between the berth and the terminal facility.
This has contributed to almost 50% reduction on ship turnaround time at the car terminal. Previously, a vessel of similar size would stay in the port for almost 24 hours, and as a direct result of the two new bollards vessels are now staying on average 12 hours. This operational efficiency improvement has been realised with three vessels that have been handled after the commissioning of the bollards.
TNPA’s capital investment programme and plan demonstrate a renewed focus on delivering on its mandate to develop the South African ports and become an enabler for economic growth.
Source & photo : TNPA
