SAPO takes delivery of SA’s first hi-tech equipment at Pier 1 Container Terminal

Jan 18, 2007
Author: SAPO

While operations at South African Port Operations Pier 1 terminal temporarily closed in December last year, the terminal is currently a hive of activity in keeping with a R2-billion development plan to establish Pier 1 as a high performance container terminal.

The drive by SAPO, a core division of Transnet is intended to create additional capacity and ensure readiness before the peak period and ultimately handle 720 000 TEU's by the end of 2007.

The acceleration plan is in line with SAPO’s strategic objective of creating capacity before demand as Transnet has earmarked Pier 1 as a high performance terminal. This will be achieved by capacity migration which includes enhancing infrastructure, superstructure, recruitment and training.

Pier 1 Container Terminal has been temporarily closed from December 29, 2006 until May this year. No operations are possible at the terminal during this period as the entire area will be under construction in order to ensure completion of the new upgraded terminal.

To date 30 percent of the civil works have been completed including the RTG and STS erection sites between Berths 105 and 103 and quayside of Berth 104. In addition, preparation has also begun at the rail terminal to ensure seamless operations between the landside and rail operation.

When operations resume at the end of the first phase in May 2007, Pier 1 will start up with one berth, 2 ship-to-shore (STS) gantry cranes and 6 Rubber Tyred Gantry (RTG) cranes.

This is the first time SAPO is utilizing the RTG operations and the equipment is the first of its kind in SA, with ergonomic features to enhance comfort and productivity.

SAPO has taken delivery of 4 RTG's and 2 STS gantry cranes which are currently being assembled in the newly constructed erection yards. The first two RTG's will be commissioned at the end of the month and the first two STS cranes will be commissioned by the end of April.

By the end of August 2007, the terminal will have 3 berths, 5 STS cranes and 12 RTGs. An additional 6 RTGs and 1 STS crane will be delivered at the end of 2007. The terminal has already received 33 tractor trailers, 2 Reach Stackers and 2 Empty Container Haulers (ECH).

The recruitment and selection process of critical appointments such as RTG and STS operators, planners and operational managers has been completed and these candidates will embark on intensive on-site training from February.

Hamilton Nxumalo GM: Equipment, Engineering and Asset Management said: “The development at Pier 1 is very exciting and ground breaking as we are creating a completely new terminal with brand new equipment and new skills.

“Another exciting and new development is that SAPO is installing a new IT system, Navies a world leader in logistics and operations which is expected to enhance flexibility for RTG's and promote automation and integration.

“A SAPO delegation is currently receiving training on the system in the US and will train the operational planners when they return.”

He added that the two terminals, Durban Container Terminal and Pier 1 Container Terminal will have a capacity in excess of 3 million TEU's by December 2007.

Nxumalo said further he was confident that the current integrated approach would assist SAPO in meeting and exceeding customer expectations.