Which are the key ports in your jurisdiction and what sort of facilities do they comprise? What is the primary purpose of the ports?

There are eight ports in South Africa, the most recently developed of which is Ngqura, 25km north of Port Elizabeth.

Richard’s Bay

One of the world’s leading bulk ports, Richard’s Bay is a gateway port to the hinterland of Northern KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng and Mpumalanga, with extensive rail links to these areas. The port comprises 23 berths, with bunkering facilities available at three of these, as well as bunker barge facilities. The port houses six cargo-handling terminals, as well as covered and open storage facilities. There is a repair berth at the small craft port.

Port of Durban

As South Africa’s foremost multi-cargo port, the Port of Durban is a key trade gateway between Far East trade, South-South trade, East and West Africa regional trade as well as trade between Europe and the USA. The port boasts 58 berths, each with a freshwater pipeline, and contains several commercial fishing quays. Cruise traffic facilities are provided at the dedicated passenger terminal. The port provides a dedicated bunkering berth as well as dedicated ship repair facilities at a dry dock, two floating docks and a slipway. The port has a roll-on/roll-off terminal for car cargo, as well as several container terminals.

Port of East London

The only commercial river port on the South African coastline, the port consists of 11 commercial berths, with a dedicated grain terminal. Fuel and gas oil bunkering are available via road tanker. Port of Ngqura One of the fastest growing ports in the world, Ngqura handles industrial bulk for the hinterland, transhipment cargo and imports and exports from across the globe. The port mainly comprises container terminals, but a manganese loading facility is planned, coupled with the planned relocation of existing manganese facilities from Port Elizabeth.

Port of Port Elizabeth

This gateway port to expanding markets is ideally strategically positioned along the South African coastline. It comprises 12 berths, tug and fishing trawler jetties and a container terminal. The port handles dry bulk, liquid bulk and general cargo. Port of Mossel Bay Mossel Bay is a fishing port and the home of the Mossgas project which is owned by PetroSA, a state-owned company. It comprises five quays and two offshore mooring facilities, as well as a multipurpose general cargo berth.

Port of Cape Town

This container and general cargo port is known for fruit and fish exports. The port comprises 34 berths, sophisticated fishing vessel facilities for processing catches and maintenance of the world fishing fleet, an Agri and roll-on/roll-off terminal as well as bunkering facilities at some berths and via barge.

Port of Saldanha

This multipurpose, iron ore and crude oil port houses five berths, two fishing quays for vessels, fishing vessel repair facilities, semi-automated cargo handling facilities for the crude oil and iron ore terminals as well as dry bulk and general cargo storage facilities. Additional liquid bulk storage and processing facilities are planned.