A Guide to Ports and Harbours in South Africa

South Africa has a long coastline with numerous ports and harbours, each with its unique characteristics and functions. The country's ports are crucial for trade and commerce, with many of them serving as major entry and exit points for goods and people.

The Port of Durban is one of the busiest ports in South Africa, handling over 1.4 million containers per year. It's a major hub for cargo and cruise ships.

The ports in South Africa are also important for the country's economy, with many of them serving as key export and import points for goods such as coal, iron ore, and gold.

South Africa's ports play a crucial role in the country's economy, with many major ports scattered along its coastline. The Port of East London is the only river port amongst the major ports in South Africa, located at the Buffalo River in the East Cape Province.

The Port of East London has 12 berths, with 10 operational, and can handle vessels with alongside drafts between 9.1 to 10.4 meters. It has a total capacity of 90,000 TEU per year and handles a significant amount of ro-ro traffic, including 180 thousand vessels annually.

The major ports of South Africa have direct sea routes to South America, North America, and Asian ports, making South Africa the biggest shipping presence in the African region. The Port of Richards Bay, for example, has 6 berths for sea-going vessels of all sizes and handles 55% of cargo amongst the major ports in South Africa.

Here are some key statistics about the major ports in South Africa:

The Port of Richards Bay is one of the largest African ports and has a coal cargo operation that easily welcomes large vessels with channel draught varying between 17.5 to 19.5 meters. The port's annual cargo handling reaches up to 80 million MT, with coal occupying 2/3rd of the share.

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South Africa's coastline is dotted with numerous ports and harbours that play a crucial role in the country's international trade. The majority of international trade depends on efficient harbors, and sea transport is usually the most economical way to move bulk stock.

There are several major ports in South Africa, including the Port of Cape Town, the Port of Durban, and the Port of Richards Bay. The Port of Richards Bay, located in the town of Richards Bay, is one of the largest African ports and handles 55% of cargo amongst the major ports in South Africa.

The Port of Richards Bay has 2.76 square kilometers of land area and 6 berths for sea-going vessels of all sizes. It facilitates coal cargo operations and is one of the largest African ports to do so, with an annual cargo handling capacity of up to 80 million MT.

Here are some of the major ports in South Africa:

The Port of Richards Bay is also notable for its coal handling capabilities, with 5 out of 6 berths specifically handling coal as their primary cargo throughout the year. The port's commercial cargo operation for the year 2020 reached a high point of 92 million MT, with modern loading rates reflecting a quantity of 50 to 65 thousand MT every day.

Durban is a major port in South Africa, with the highest vessel traffic in entire Africa. It was setup in 1824 under the British colonial identity.

The port facility occupies Durban Bay, extending over 18.5 sq. km with 8.9 sq km of high-tide waterfront. This makes it a significant presence in the region.

About 60% of the total shipping revenue of South Africa comes from the Durban Port Facility. This is a substantial contribution to the country's economy.

The port also handles 60% of the total container cargo shipping load of South Africa. Its efficiency and capacity are crucial to the country's trade.

Cape Town is a bustling port city with a rich history dating back to 1652. The Port of Cape Town has a land area of 2.53 sq. km and a waterfront of 9.5 sq. km.

The port's establishment was largely contributed by the Dutch, with cargo port facilities dating back to the mid-1800s during the British colonial setup. It has 34 berths, including repair and smaller boat layovers.

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Six container berths serve large container vessels with sea-going draughts up to 15.9 meters. The harbour also features a waterfall attraction and sees thousands of fishing and pleasure boat calls annually.

The port has a maximum capacity of 24 MT for road haulers and 22MT for cargo trains, resulting in annual handling of 9.84 to 11.25 million MT of containers. A steep fall in vessel calls due to port congestion is evident, from 2520 arrivals in 2015 to 510 in 2020.

The port facility has grain centres for handling 28 thousand cubic meters of sensitive grain cargo. Meanwhile, repair and drydock yards with a length of 369 meters are available for large vessels.

Over 1200 handling and operation staff work over 360 days a year for terminal operations. Transnet facilitates inter-port connections as the major stakeholder of this port facility.

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Gqeberha, once known as Port Elizabeth, is a city in the Eastern Cape's Algoa Bay, boasting a port born in the 1830s. The Campanile, a 1923 bell tower, marks the harbor's edge, offering panoramic views.

The port of Gqeberha has a quay length of approximately 1 km, spread across 3 container berths. It also features 6 berths for breakbulk handling and 2 for ore bulk.

Transnet is the major operator for container terminals in this port facility, utilizing railway and road transport for ore and breakbulk handling operations. The port's cargo handling capacity amounts to 375,000 containers.

Gqeberha's port allows bulk vessels with 12.1 m of draught to enter safely, and the cargo lightning operations for bigger vessels (VLOC) take place at the outer anchorage. The channel allows over 310 meters of width for large ore carriers and tankers to enter.

Port Elizabeth, now known as Gqeberha, has a manganese storage facility with a capacity of 350,000 MT, one of the few in the world. This facility is a significant asset for the port's operations.

The South African Marine Museum at the port showcases shipwrecks and naval lore, a hit with history buffs. Visitors can also enjoy the nearby Boardwalk, which sparkles with restaurants and a casino.

For wildlife lovers, Addo Elephant Park, 70 kilometers away, teems with over 600 elephants. A guided tour to Addo is a great way to spend a day trip from the port, especially during the pleasant weather in March when the jacarandas are in bloom.

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The Coega port is a significant player in South Africa's maritime scene. Located in Port Ngqura, it's also known as the Port of Coega.

This port has been around since 1999, but the Ngqura container terminal started operations in 2002. It's the newest and deepest terminal for container loading in South Africa.

Ngqura boasts 7 berths that operate 24/7 for cargo operations, with a total draft of 18 meters for container handling and 16.5 to 18 meters for general cargo. The port is 20 km from the nearest neighboring port of Port Elizabeth.

Vessels with a capacity of 12,500 TEU are common visitors at the container terminal. The terminal has an 18-meter datum and is surrounded by a 600-meter-wide basin.

The port's network facilitates 1680 reefer points for temperature-sensitive cargo handling. This is part of the 60ha container handling facility, which is set to expand by another 30ha.

The Coega port facility spans over a 120 sq. km area, including general cargo and industrial phases. It has over 500 regular workers, with plans to expand to 1500.

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Richards Bay is a quieter port with a wild heart, 160 kilometers north of Durban. Its docks hum with coal exports, but travelers come for Zululand's magic.

The Empangeni Museum, 20 kilometers away from Richards Bay, dives into Zulu history with artifacts and tales of Shaka. This museum is a great place to learn about the local culture.

Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, a 90-minute drive from Richards Bay, shelters rhinos and elephants, offering a unique safari experience. Spring (September-October) is a great time to visit if you want to avoid crowds.

In contrast, the Port of Cape Town has a land area of 2.53 sq. km and a waterfront of 9.5 sq. km. Its establishment dates back to 1652 with a big part of the contribution by the Dutch.

The Port of Cape Town has 34 berths, including the repair and smaller boat layovers, and 6 container berths serve large container vessels. These vessels can have sea-going draughts up to 15.9 meters.

The port's maximum handling capacity for road haulers is 24 MT, and for cargo trains, it's 22 MT. This results in annual handling of 9.84 to 11.25 million MT of containers.

The Port of Cape Town is one of the busiest ports in South Africa, handling over 2,000 ships per year.

It's strategically located at the southern tip of Africa, making it a key entry point for international trade.

The port's container terminal has a capacity of 1.2 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) per year.

The East London Port is a significant facility in South Africa, boasting a long history dating back to 1836 when it was established by the colonial British setup. It's located at the Buffalo River in the coastal region of East Cape Province.

This river port is unique among the major ports in South Africa, with 12 berths available for river vessels, including 10 operational ones. The berths have drafts ranging from 9.1 to 10.4 meters.

A major ro-ro traffic inflow comes from the nearby Mercedes Benz factory, resulting in the port handling as many as 180 thousand vessels every year. This is a testament to its strategic location and capacity.

The port's conveyor handling facility is the largest in South Africa, stretching 388 meters and catering to both incoming and outgoing cargo. It has a planned expansion to handle 360,000 vessels.

East London Port has an impressive 8300 sq. meters of area dedicated to unit storage facilities, enabling it to handle a turnover of 125 vehicle units per hour. This level of efficiency is crucial for the port's operations.

The port's conveyor has a capacity of 8000MT per hour, resulting in an annual grain volume network of over 2 million MT. This is a remarkable achievement, showcasing the port's capabilities.

The cargo handling capabilities of this port are impressive. A collection of over 58 berths handles container, dry bulk, and liquid cargo throughout the year.

The facility operates vessels with a deadweight tonnage (DWT) of up to 2,30,000. Their massive outer anchorage allows cargo lightening for vessels with heavier DWT.

Ore carriers with a length of 300m+ and a beam of 35m+ can easily ply alongside the facility. This speaks to the port's adaptability and ability to accommodate a wide range of vessel sizes.

In 2019, the port recorded 3253 vessels (sea-going) calls with a cargo volume of 81.21 million MT. This is the largest cargo volume amongst the major ports in South Africa by a significant margin.

South Africa's ports and harbours play a vital role in the country's economy, with the busiest port being the Port of Durban, which handled over 1.1 million containers in 2020.

The Port of Cape Town, another significant hub, has invested heavily in modernizing its facilities, including the construction of a new container terminal.

South Africa's ports have also become a key entry point for international trade, with the country's strategic location making it an ideal gateway to the African continent.

The Port of Richards Bay is a major coal export terminal, with its close proximity to coal mines making it an efficient hub for coal transportation.

The country's ports are well-equipped to handle a wide range of cargo, from containers and vehicles to bulk commodities and project cargo.