16 August 2022

According to a presentation at this month’s Southern African Transport Conference, South Africa’s ports are still far behind the most innovative and efficient maritime nations in the world.

According to a demonstration by Leticia Grimmet of the Moses Kotane Institute, major fifth generation “Smart Ports” are already light years ahead in terms of service offerings, whereas Southern African ports, including ours in SA, are at best transitioning from stage 2 to stage 3 in terms of development.

In contrast to some of southern Africa’s ports with their frequent inefficiencies and obstructions, Hong Kong and Singapore are ranked among the world’s bustling fifth generation (5GP) Ports, which are referred to as customer-centric.

Service quality, information technology (IT), community environmental effect, port cluster, marine cluster, logistics hub, inland link, and waterside connection are some of the main indications of 5GP status.

Prior to making a practical shift to smart ports, according to Grimmet, Southern African Ports still have a long way to go. The primary barrier was a limited budget; there is simply not enough money available to make necessary infrastructure investments.

When Transnet unveiled an R16.1 billion, seven-year capital expansion program with a focus on the Mossel Bay, Saldanha, and Cape Town Ports, the SATC had just put away its tables and chairs. The revelation will undoubtedly give South African ports some cause for optimism as they work to achieve Smart Port certification.

TNPA Western Region Managing Executive Advocate Phyllis Difeto made the news and stated that the investment prioritized port efficiency and future capacity: “Our capital investment plan demonstrates our commitment to the operationalisation of our reimagined TNPA operating model that was launched in 2021,” stated Difeto.

Source: SABBEX/ Boating South Africa