The reconstruction of Maydon Wharf at Port of Durban in South Africa has begun in a bid to ensure safe port operations.This will also in turn help meet the needs of larger port vessels thus increasing input.
Maydon Wharf at Port of Durban in South Africa is the largest bulk and dry bulk handling precinct in the Port of Durban in South Africa located in 120ha of port land is being reconstructed
This project is being overseen by Transnet with the main contractor being Stefanutti Stocks AXSYS Joint Venture and it will cost an estimated US $0.12bn.
According to the Senior Operations Manager in the Port of Durban, Zola Nkowane, this project forms part of Transnet’s Market Demand Strategy which has the aim of enabling effective, efficient and economic functioning of an integrated port system to promote economic growth.
This will involve the rebuilding and deepening of six of the 15 berths in this precinct. Upon completion, these berths will have a draught of 14.5 m enabling them to handle vessels with draughts up to 13 m.
The Maydon Wharf entrance channel however will still need to be deepened further to enable the vessels sail in full laden.
At the moment, the bigger vessels call half laden due to the current draught and width restrictions. The quay walls were originally designed to handle vessels of approximately 20 000 DWT yet it is now handling 55 000 DWT vessels.
Berths 1, 2, 13 and 14 are currently being constructed while construction of berths 3 and 4 is expected to begin early 2016.
The team working on the project implemented the night and weekend working shifts and mobilization of an additional plant due to some of the challenges that arose in order for the project to remain on track.
