South Africa: Durban Container Terminal to loose 20% capacity

Durban Container Terminal will be servicing less vessels for the foreseeable future. Due to work being carried out on one of the port's berths. This will involve building new cranes, deepening berths and rectifying scour protection. This will result in 20% less productivity for the port and the disruption is expected to last for at least 2 years.

In December Transnet Port Terminals asked all shipping lines to reduce calls to Durban. The capacity of the port will be reduced by 400,000 TEU, some of this will be handled by Point and Maydon Wharf Agri Ro Ro Terminal. The remainder will have to be handled elsewhere.

Mediterranean Shipping Company yesterday announced the introduction of a pendulum service from Europe and the Med to the Far East via South African ports.

The service will include 15 vessels each with a capacity of 6000 TEUs. The first vessel from Europe will be the MSC Methoni Voy NZ 1024A departing Antwerp on 26/01 and from the Far East the MSC Melissa Voy FH 1024A departing Fuzho on 18/02.