Port of Richards Bay - Overview

Longitude & Latitude

Latitude 28 ° 48’ S Longitude 32 ° 02’ E

General overview

Since it's opening, the Port of Richards Bay has expanded rapidly with the establishment of one new berth every 2nd year on average, proudly fulfilling its aim of making it South Africa's leading port in terms of cargo volumes. The establishment of the port transformed a small fishing village into a dynamic industrial city. The port's hinterland comprises the northern KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng and the Mpumalanga regions.

Initially built as a bulk port to export 26 million tonnes of coal over the first ten years, the port has diversified into the handling of other cargoes. Currently, Richards Bay handles in excess of 80 million tonnes annually, representing approximately 60% of South Africa's seaborne cargo. This makes it South Africa's leading port in terms of volume handled. To date (June 2007) the port has handled in excess of 1.7 billion tonnes of cargo of which coal represents 1.3 billion tonnes.

The port is the largest in South Africa, with total land and water surfaces of 2 174 hectares and 1 443 hectares respectively. To date only half of that land has been developed. The Port of Richards Bay has the potential to develop over time into one of the largest global ports by expanding up the Mhlathuze River floodplain.

The port hosts six cargo handling terminals equipped to ensure that our clients can compete in the global arena:

• The Dry Bulk Terminal, operated by Transnet Port Terminals, imports and exports a variety of ores, minerals and woodchips
• Multi-purpose Terminal, also operated by Transnet Port Terminals handles breakbulk cargoes, including ferro chrome, pig iron, steel, forest products, granite, aluminium, bagged cargo, containers, heavy lifts and abnormal loads
• Richards Bay Coal Terminal Company Limited, is the largest single export coal terminal in the world with the capacity to export 72 million tonnes per annum
• Island View Storage, operated by Richards Bay Bulk Storage, handles a wide range of bulk liquids stored in tanks
• Richards Bay Bunker Terminal, operated by Joint Bunker Services, imports bunker fuel from Durban and Cape Town
• Private facilities: Phosphoric acid export loading facility and liquid pitch import facility

Weather affecting port

Caution should be exercised in high south-westerly and north-easterly winds. NB: ships have lost their anchors in the past.

Deep water port

One of the port’s inherent strengths is its deep water infrastructure, with a maximum permissible draught of 17,5 metres. This coupled with the high-tech state of the art terminal infrastructures allows for high speed, high volume cargo handling and a fast turn around of vessels.

Development potential

The Planning and Development Department is actively engaged in port planning in order to secure the following:

• There is available space for long-term development
• Land usage and development takes place in a systematic, orderly manner
• National development objectives are included
• Flexibility is inherent in the planning
• Development takes place in areas having suitable geotechnical conditions
• Planning take environmental ascpects into account

Port Development Framework

The Port Master Plan guides the spatial development of the port. The following planned developments are receiving attention:

• A ship repair facility
• Additional bulk liquid handling berth
• Additional berths for break bulk and dry bulk
• Container handling facility at an existing berth

Numerous additional development proposals are being addressed. Various construction projects are taking place at the port, the most important being the construction of berth 306 for steam coal exports. This additional berth will allow the Richards Bay Coal Terminal (Pty) Ltd to increase steam coal exports from 72 to 84 million tonnes per annum.

(source)

Cargo handled for March 2010 - 7 283 526 tons