Cape Town : Services

Working hours

Port Control – For emergencies and handling of ships – 24 hours a day, 365 days per year.

Cartage – 24 hours per day.

Breakbulk – 06:00 – 22:00, Monday to Friday.

Containers – 24 hours a day, 362 days per year (not 1 January, 1 May and 25 December).

Office hours - (including Revenue) 08:00 to 16:30 Monday to Friday, not public holidays.

Tankers are restricted to daylight berthing and unberthing. Under certain circumstances, vessels with a double hull will not be subject to these conditions.

Hazardous cargo

All arrangements for the handling of Hazardous cargo must be made with the Port Captain. Oil tankers and ships carrying explosives or dangerous goods restricted to daylight hours.

Fresh water supplies

Available on request.

Dry dock/ship repair facilities

Transnet National Ports Authority owns and operates two dry docks, a repair quay and a synchrolift.

Robinson Dry Dock

Situated at Victoria Basin, overall docking length 161,2 m, length on bottom = 152,4 m, width at entrance top 20,7 m, maximum width at bottom = 17,2 m, depth over entrance sill HWOST = 7,9 m.

Sturrock Dry Dock

Situated at Duncan Dock, overall docking length 360 m, length on bottom (dock floor) = 350,4 m, width at entrance top = 45,1 m, maximum width at bottom (dock floor) = 38,4 m, depth 14 m, depth over entrance sill HWOST = 13,7 m. A docking length of 369,6 m can be achieved by placing the caisson in the emergency stop at the entrance. The dock can be divided into two compartments of either 132,5 m and 216,1 m or 205,7 m and 142,9 m.

Repair Quay Length 456 m, landing wall 548 m.

SYNCHROLIFT can handle 1 806 tonnes and vessels up to 61 m in length and 15 m in width. Repair lanes available (length) = 2 x 70 m, 1 x 55 m, 2 x 75 m.

Work is undertaken by private companies and services include, ship repair, engineering, refrigeration, hydraulics, cleaning and painting.

Limitations e.g. harbour entrance depth

Depth at entrance channel 15,9 m

Entrance depth at Chart Datum

Duncan Dock 15,4 m

Ben Schoeman 14,0 m

Bunkering

The Port of Cape Town has 61 bunkering points supplying marine fuel oil, gas oil and blended fuels at most berths. Bunker fuels are delivered by pipeline, gas oil is delivered by barge and diesel oil is not available.

Joint Bunkering Services is a joint venture between BP South Africa, Caltex Oil, Shell SA and Engen Petroleum. Consumers can choose which oil company they want to supply their fuel while gaining from the economy of scale from the shared distribution system of the JBS.

JBS is a highly efficient operation offering fuel and lubricants to its marine customers while working within stringent health, safety and environmental controls. More than 80 % of fuel oil supplied by JBS comes from Caltex Oil.

Caltex owns and operates a large modern 110 000 bpd refinery at Milnerton on the edge of the city and this is connected with most parts of the Port of Cape Town via 11 km of pipeline and a barge.

BP’s operation supplies a wide variety of special lubricants for the maritime industry. It is the only oil company to offer a bulk lubricant supply facility with resulting cost saving advantages.

Chandlers

Chandling services are available from private companies located around the port.

Stevedores

The following services are offered:

• stowage of cargo
• lashing and securing of cargo
• breaking out of cargo
• planning of cargo to stowage plan
• operating ships equipment
• cleaning of hatches and tanks

Duncan Dock Cold Storage Stevedoring Services provides the clients of the cold storage facility with a one stop service in discharging vessel to the cold store.

Transport (Internal/Road/Rail)

Transnet National Port Authority’s Cartage Department provides services to the container, Combi and Breakbulk Terminals.

The business serves the clients by using specialised equipment for containers, haulers with a capacity of up to 30 000 kg and customised equipment for the transport of breakbulk and conventional cargoes such as timber, paper and steel products.

The normal area of operation is a 25 km radius from the port but Breakbulk Cartage also offers longer runs and commonly transport goods 50 – 60 km.

The establishment of a satellite depot at Belcon will increase customer service by transporting containers between the container terminal and the Depot at night so helping to alleviate pressure experienced during peak periods.

Helicopters: This service is provided by a private company and can be used for the transport of technicians, mail, stores, parts and medical supplies to passing ships. Full emergency services are also available.