The world’s largest roll-on-roll-off (RORO) vessel, the MV Salome, docked at the Durban Car Terminal at the end of April on her maiden voyage to Africa.
The vessel carried a consignment of 644 fully built vehicles for South African customers.
Built for heavy abnormal cargo with a weight of 75 000 t when fully laden, the RORO vessel arrived in Durban after sailing from Europe – an 18-day voyage.
Vehicles are normally driven on to and from a RORO vessel when being loaded or unloaded. RORO ships can typically carry between 5 000 and 6 000 standard cars.
“This is the first time a vessel of this size comes to South Africa, as it usually operates between Europe, the US and Australia,” says Wallenius Wilhemsen Ocean GM Niran Sheoprosad.
“It’s something we should be proud of as we had a world titleholder on our shores.
“MV Salome is one of four sister vessels which are our Mark V series.
“She is big, flexible and purpose built to carry superheavy loads with a stern ramp capacity of 505 t and main deck height of 7.1 m,” says Sheoprosad.
“With a length of 265 m, seeing our Mark V vessel against a standard car carrier makes you truly appreciate her size.
“Even with heavy loads, she still manages to keep a light draught to call at most ports.”
The Durban Car Terminal in March celebrated a milestone when it recorded more than 600 000 fully built units handled in a single financial year, despite having capacity for only 520 000 units.
The terminal says it “acknowledges the introduction of this massive carrier to service South Africa and Africa in general, with the hope that she will unlock much-needed capacity in the automotive sector and support its future expansion”.
The Durban Car Terminal is one of 16 sea cargo terminals managed by Transnet Port Terminals.