Saldana : Overview

Situated on the west coast of Africa, 60 nautical miles north-west of Cape Town, the port of Saldanha is the deepest and largest natural port in Southern Africa and is partly protected by an artificial breakwater.

Longitude & Latitude

Latitude 33 ° 02’ S, Longitude 17 ° 58’ E Salinity = 1 025

Main features

The land and sea area covered by Portnet jurisdiction totals 18 300 hectares with a circumference of 91 km.

The Port of Saldahna is the only iron ore handling port in South Africa. Proper management of a synergy between (Transnet National Port Authority) management and Spoornet (Orex) management has ensured reliable connection between the port and the iron ore mines at Sishen (some 860 km north-east of Saldanha). The port also serves base metal mines, an adjacent heavy minerals smelter as well as the crude storage facility near the port.

Originally constructed during the early 1970’s to facilitate the export of iron ore, bulk crude oil and breakbulk terminals were subsequently added to the facilities in the port. Port facilities consist of a 990 m long jetty with two iron ore berths and one crude oil berth joined to the north shore of the harbour by a 3 100 m causeway.

In addition, a 874m multipurpose terminal quay, facilitates break-bulk cargo handling. The iron ore and oil jetties are fendered with Yokohama pneumatic (floating) fenders of 3,3 m in diameter and vary in length from 6,5 m to 10,6 m, whereas the multi-purpose terminal quay is fendered with tyre fenders.

Special features

Also within the port area are the SA Navy Base, SAS Saldanha, and a fishing harbour which is administered by the Department of the Environment.

Current & Future developments

A warehouse of 5544 square metres, designed and constructed by Protekon, has been erected reccently at the MPT. The shed is 168 m long, 33 m wide and 17 m high. It was designed to allow for further expansion of about 70% of its cost. The shed is being used to store 35 000 tons of galvanised steel for Duferco Steel Processing.

Two ADC cranes of 35 tons each have been installed to easily accommodate the heavy coils of 12 to 30 tons. A +/- R650 million upgrade to the Iron Ore export plant is currently in full swing and the project, which is aimed at maintaining and increasing the carrying capacity of the plant, will be implemented in three stages over the next three to four years.

The first phase will include the expansion of the stockpile area, addition of a third stacker reclaimer and two shiploaders.

Expected to begin in 2002, the second phase will involve the refurbishment of the existing conveyor structure and the acquisition of a second tippler as well as a shunt line.

Weather affecting port

The Port of Saldanha operates under open sea conditions. The wind and swell are always factors to take into consideration as they may affect operations.

Winter months: May, June, July and August, winds predominantly north north-east with rain.

Summer months: November, December, January and February, winds south-east in the mornings swinging south-west in the afternoon.

Saldanha Bay is periodically affected by heavy swells particularly in the winter months. (At spring HT swells can often exceed 7 m as monitored by a devise moored in the entrance channel.) This can sometimes affect ships on the jetty causing them to see-saw on the fenders and break lines.