The Durban Container Terminal (DCT) Pier 2 has taken delivery of the final consignment of four tandem-lift ship-to-shore (STS) cranes as part of a R700-million infrastructure investment to boost efficiencies and reduce service times for vessels calling at the terminal.  

This second consignment brought the number of cranes at the terminal to seven, all of which were procured from the Chinese-based Shangai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Company, and were intended to enhance the terminal’s tandem-lift handling capacity.

The cranes were the largest of their kind deployed at any container terminal in the Southern Hemisphere, and their acquisition made DCT Pier 2 the first terminal in Southern Africa to operate tandem-lift STS cranes.

“We are currently implementing an operational plan for the fleet as soon as they are fully commissioned by the capital projects team. The first three cranes have been handed over to operations to progress towards achieving world-class handling rates,” said DCT Pier 2 terminal manager Hector Danisa.

Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) capital projects GM Logan Naidoo added that the cranes were designed to last about 20 years and were capable of servicing the latest-generation container vessels, which had a span of 24 containers across the deck.

Moreover, the cranes would be able to service the next-generation Megamax vessels, which would be able to dock at DCT Pier 2 North Quay once it had been deepened.  

In addition to the standard twin-lift 20-foot container crane-handling operation, the cranes were able to lift two full 40-foot containers or four empty 20-foot containers in tandem during vessel operations across the quay. 

Further, with an 80 t safe working load, the new dual-hoisting, tandem-lift technology was expected to boost port productivity.

Naidoo added that the cranes would ensure that DCT remained a player in the global shipping fraternity, while the delivery of the fleet was a major milestone in the delivery of Transnet’s Market Demand Strategy (MDS). 

“TPT has R33-billion worth of capital projects planned over the next seven years, with a key focus on upgrading infrastructure at various terminals and replacing aged equipment.

"The investment in the tandem lift STS cranes was prioritised as one of TPT’s top ten capital investment projects under the MDS,” he commented.