Capital projects worth a combined R79,6-million would be implemented at the Port Elizabeth harbour during the 2009/10 financial year, the port’s landlord, Transnet National Ports Authority (NPA), confirmed this week.

The projects would seek to provide port infrastructure ahead of demand, improve asset efficiency, and would be pursued despite the current economic slowdown.

Port engineer Basil Ngcobo said that the projects ranged from the provision of roof shelters at the four port entrances and the installation of closed-circuit television cameras, to the upgrading of the No 1 Quay substation and the harbour’s 6,6kV electrical-reticulation network.

The R12,25-million substation upgrade, which was initiated in August 2007 and completed in May this year, would seek to assure uninterrupted power supply to key facilities, such as the port administration building and the container and car terminals.

The upgrade, from 9 MVA to 16 MVA, of the 6,6-kV electrical reticulation network, meanwhile, would be implemented over a three-year period at an estimated total cost of R80,7-million. Some R6,6-million of that expenditure would be made during the current financial year, ending on March 31, 2010.

An extensive maintenance programme, budgeted at R31-million, had also been approved in a bid to sustain the life of port assets and infrastructure.

Transnet NPA also confirmed that the R3,5-million refurbishment of the main slipway at the Port Elizabeth harbour had been completed, reinstating it to its design capacity of 1 200 t.   

Over the last number of years, the 70-year-old slipway’s trolley and rail structure had deteriorated to such an extent that it had been downgraded to a safe working load of 600 t.

Prior to the refurbishment, fishing vessel owners with sailing vessels with a gross tonnage above 600 t, had to divert their boats and trawlers elsewhere for maintenance.

The refurbishment project started in June last year and was officially completed on April 30, 2009.  The scope of the project included: the replacement of wood rubbing blocks; steel cradle module frames and a supply of wheel assemblies.