EL port set to expand

with new facilities

By Matthew Hattingh

EAST LONDON -- The port here is set to perk up with the completion this week of a new 20 000 square metre container terminal.

The new terminal, alongside K berth, more than doubles the port's container handling capacity.

Portnet spokesman Terry Taylor said "exciting prospects"were ahead as the new facility would "sell" East London to shipping lines. Portnet was marketing the new terminal.

They were optimistic that additional container shipping lines will use East London as a "dedicated port of call", he said.

Portnet anticipated a growth in container business here over the next five years, by which stage the new terminal would be operating at full capacity.

Later this year it will take delivery of two mobile container cranes. This is significant as many container ships are not equipped with their own loading gear and have to unload containers at other ports, after which they are transported here.

With the new cranes in place, business in the region will benefit from reduced shipping costs and quicker delivery time -- good news for importers and exporters.

R15 million has been spent so far and represents the first two phases of a R74m project to revamp container handling facilities in the port.

The next phase of the project involves moving Portnet's civil engineering and maintenance department to a new building currently under construction on the West Bank.