Cape Town : Overview
Cape Town is situated approximately 120 nautical miles north-west of Cape Agulhas.
Longitude & Latitude
Latitude 33 ° 54' S Longitude 18 ° 26' E
Description of position
Cape Town is situated approximately 120 nautical miles north-west of Cape Agulhas, the most southerly point in Africa. Port limits extend westwards by a straight line between Green Point and Robben Island Lighthouses, and northwards by a straight line from Robben Island Lighthouse east (true) to the eastern shore of Table Bay, southwards along high water mark, so as to include the Foreshore to the Castle, and back to Green Point Lighthouse.
Main features including water area
Since the young Prince Alfred tipped the first load of rubble for the building of the Alfred Basin in 1860, the Port of Cape Town has developed into one of Southern Africa’s most important links in foreign trade. Strategically placed on the main sea route around Africa, Cape Town will continue to serve as the “Tavern of the Seas”.
The Port of Cape Town is a full service, general cargo port, operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Marine services include port navigation, pilotage, towage, mooring, pollution control, security and a 200 tonnes SWL floating crane. Bunkers are supplied at most berths. Two dry docks and a synchrolift are available for ship repairs. T he port is world renowned for its deciduous fruit, perishable and frozen product exports. The fishing industry at the Port of Cape Town is of major proportion. Conventional cargo is worked in the Duncan Dock where ample undercover, open and cold storage is available. A container terminal is situated at the Ben Schoeman Dock.
All quays are equipped with the latest technology in cranes and mechanical lifting equipment. The Port of Cape Town is fully equipped to handle all types of general breakbulk and containerised cargo via its specialised terminals. It has the benefit of a wide variety of wellequipped cargo terminals linked to a vast inland transport infrastructure.
Transnet National Ports Authority’s cartage service complements a rail/road transport network which contributes towards the total logistical chain for containerised, as well as conventional cargo. The Port of Cape Town is strategically positioned on the world’s sea routes being on the major southern ocean trade routes.
It is ideally suited to serve as a hub for cargoes between Europe and the Americas and Africa, Asia and Oceania. Regular interport feeder services benefit especially the great Container Terminal which is regarded as a gateway for African countries, ideally becoming hub port for those on the West African coast.
The Container Terminal has the advantage that, in respect of the United Kingdom, European and American time-sensitive cargoes, a five day saving in transit time on containers to and from the Gauteng area can be achieved. This is made possible by the direct railage of containers which eliminates the sailing time to other ports.
The port’s primary aim is to facilitate trade and, as a consequence, make a valuable contribution to the economic growth of our region and country. Our mission is to commit ourselves to render a service through a responsible, skilled and motivated team and using effective equipment in the interests of our clients, employees, the environment, the region and South Africa.
This all embracing approach sees us striving for continuous improvement on all fronts. An on-going benchmarking process seeks to raise productivity levels, to reduce vessel turnaround times and overall, to be recognised as a superior Port Authority.
Giving the increasing importance of Cape Town as a hub port for cargoes from the Western Hemisphere, as well as the growing number of transhipments between the Far East and West African ports, the city’s role cannot be underplayed.
Special features
Extensive precooling facilities at the IHS fruit terminal caters for deciduous fruit exports, whilst the port also has one of the few cold stores in the world that can hold products down to -60 °C with a capacity of 10 000 tonnes.
The Breakbulk and General Cargo Terminals aim to provide economical and efficient general cargo handling services which meets the needs of both importers and exporters.
Off Port Limits Service
The rendezvous position for Off Port Limits Service is between 5 – 12 miles west of Greenpoint Lighthouse. This area is free of port dues, etc. The twin engined helicopter and launch services are available 24 hours a day.
Weather affecting port
During the winter months, April to September, north and north-west winds backing to south west are frequent. West gales can occur particularly during winter which can result in heavy range action at the berths.
During the summer months, October to March, the prevailing winds are south-east. These may reach gale force.
| Weather bulletins and reports available from Cape Town Radio/ZSC. |
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| Automatic radio telex (ATOR) in FEC mode at 1000 and 1730 utc, frequencies 4214, 4317, 8688.5, 12698 and 17164 kHz. | |
| Radio telephone at 0948, 1333 and 1748 utc, frequencies 4435, 8719 and the following VHF channels: | |
| Alexander Bay 04 | Milnerton 25 |
| Port Nolloth 01 | Constantiaberg 26 |
| Hondeklipbaai 25 | Hermanus 04 |
| Doringbaai 87 | Pearly Beach 85 |
| Elandsbaai 23 | Struisbaai 84 |
| Saldanha Bay 27 | Albertinia 86 |
| Navtex at 0020, 0420, 0820, 1220, 1620 and 2020 utc, frequency 518 kHz, mode F1B FEC, transmission identification character C. | |
| Coastal weather bulletins via Navtex at 1220 and 1620 utc. | |
| Coastal weather reports via Navtex at 1310 utc. | |
Future developments
Throughput capacity at the container terminal stands at 420 000 TEU’s a year following the increase in ground slots from 3500 to 4500 TEU’s (with average stacking height of two containers).
When the Ro-Ro shed is moved, annual TEU capacity is expected to increase by a further 50 000. Plans are also underway to have a permanent integral reefer stacking area with 1000 reefer points.
Two post-Panamax cranes useful for working ships stacked five-high and able to handle container vessels of more than 4000 TEU’s have been commissioned.
Upgrading of the equipment at the breakbulk facility includes the phasing in of either vessel gear or mobile harbour cranes while lowering the usage of existing general and 4 ton cranes.