Cape Town (Port)

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Truck driver killed in accident at Transnet Port Terminal

A 52-year old Cape Town truck driver was killed on March 20, 2020, when the spreader from a Transnet Port Terminal crane collapsed and crushed his truck cab inside the container terminal. The accident occurred around 11h00 on Friday morning when the truck arrived to collect a container at the TPT terminal. The reach stacker crane passed over the truck when the spreader bar was dislodged and fell onto the cab of the truck. The reason why the spreader fell was not clear but one witness claimed that the crane involved in the accident had been receiving attention from a technician shortly beforehand. Immediately following the accident the crane operator attempted to hoist the spreader off the truck but was unsuccessful. The driver of the truck was trapped in his cab and died at the scene despite the efforts of Transnet paramedics who were quickly on the scene. Following the accident the South African Police Services opened an inquest docket for further investigation. Operations remained suspended for some hours until all regulatory authorities currently onsite, concluded their assessments. The maintenance of the Kalmar equipment at the port was recently taken over by Transnet.

Cape Town port faces potable water restrictions

South African attorneys Shepstone & Wylie have alerted North P&I Club that restrictions imposed on the supply of fresh water to vessels calling at Cape Town, North Club mentions in an announcement. Cape Town recently experienced drought that affected the region. As a result, the port authority introduced a ban on all use of municipal drinking-quality water for outside and non-essential purposes. Thus, provision of potable water to all calling vessels has been suspended, except from extreme cases, North Club notes. According to the port of Cape Town, the vessels calling there, are requested to bunker potable water at other ports not affected by the drought. However, Cape Town isn’t the only port affected by the drought. As local media report, Mossel Bay, Ngqura and Port of Elizabeth also face water restrictions.

CT port expands with new fuel storage facility

The Port of Cape Town’s new fuel storage facility is now fully operational, having received its pilot consignment of diesel in the first week of July 2017 and was tested ahead of full operation this month. Located on approximately 37 273 square meters of land at the port’s Eastern Mole, the new fuel storage and distribution facility for cleaner fuels is poised to assist with security of fuel supply in the region. Construction began in late 2015 after Transnet National Ports Authority awarded Burgan Cape Terminals a 24-year lease to develop a new independent fuel storage, distribution and loading facility. The company, which will operate the terminal, is owned by Netherlands firm VTTI and black economic empowerment companies Thebe Investment Corporation and Jicaro. “With an estimated investment of R 890 million, the awarding of this contract to a 30% black owned company in partnership with an international operator, speaks strongly to Transnet’s commitment to the Market Demand Strategy (MDS) and the vision of the Operation Phakisa programme of creating capacity ahead of demand and unlocking South Africa’s ocean economy,” says Cape Town Port Manager Mpumi Dweba-Kwetana. Boasting a total capacity of 121 908 m³ from 12 tanks, the terminal’s product portfolio includes diesel, petrol, FAME (fatty acid methyl esters) and ethanol for blending and jet fuel. The South African government has included the Burgan Cape Terminal as a strategic project under Operation Phakisa. The terminal has accelerated transformation of the sector with its inclusion of emerging black-owned, independent fuel suppliers and contributes to energy as one of the key commodities in driving economic growth. Source: InfrastructureNews