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Port of Saldanha (South Africa) - PMAESA (ID: 13074)
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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. The port was primarily developed in the 70 s to export the iron ore from the Sishen area. The bulk crude oil and breakbulk terminals were subsequently added to the facilities in the port. The Port of Saldahna is the only iron ore handling port in South Africa. Chart of the port (Courtesy of SA Navy and Ports of Southern Africa) Not suitable for navigation. 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 874 m 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. Berth Type of cargo Length Depth Berth n 1 Oil terminal 365m 21.25m Berth n 2 Iron ore jetty 630m 21.25m Berths n 201, 202, 203 Multipurpose terminal 874m 12.0m to 13.5m Berth Equipment Berth n 1 Storage tanks outside the port area (discharge rate of up to 10 000 tons per hour) Berth n 2 ~ 7km of conveyor belts, two ship loader with a handling rate of 8000t./h. Berths n 201, 202, 203 2 x 15t. cranes on berth n 201 Oil terminal (berth 1) Situated at the end of the ore jetty. Tanker jetty length = 365 m (maximum permissible draught = 21,25 m). Pipeline to handle liquid bulk crude oil. The tanker berth The tanker berth is equipped with 3 x 16" connection Chicksan hydraulic arms, placed 11 m apart on the jetty. Iron ore jetty Ore jetty length = 630 m (maximum permissible draught = 21,25 m). The Port of Saldanha is operated on a common-user basis and infrastructure as well as superstructure is managed and maintained by NPA. Entrance Channel The port can accommodate vessels with a maximum arrival or sailing draught (on tide) of 20,5 m, with Port Captain s permission required for a maximum sailing draught up to 21,5 m (ideal conditions) which may be restricted to 21,25 m if swell is unsuitable. Quay channels both sides of the ore and oil jetty are dredged to a nominal depth of 23,0m below Chart Datum. The depth of the navigation channel seaward of the jetty is 23,0 m CD and 23,7 m CD at the start of the main entrance channel. A turning basin is situated seaward of the jetty with a diameter of 580 m and a depth of 23,2 m below CD. The width of the main entrance channel (at its narrowest point ) is approximately 400 metres. Maximum draught at the multipurpose terminal quay: berth 201= 12 m. 202 & 203= 13,5m. Pilotage and Tugs Pilotage and tugs attendance is compulsory. 3 tugs are available, each with a bollard pull of 42 tons. Working Hours Port control is manned 24 hours a day. Stevedoring SA Stevedores has been appointed to manage the storage of Blackmountain commodities and the conveying thereof. Loading and berthing for all other commodities is undertaken by NPA. The railway line to the mining area is operated by OREX, a division of Spoornet. Transportation of iron ore from Sishen to Saldanha bay on a 861km long line has reached the halfway mark of its Rand 542 million expansion programme (to expand the capacity from 22 million tons to 29 million tons per year). The project will be completed in 2003. Harbour tons 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 UNLOADED General Cargo Break-Bulk 13,960 135,221 491,013 768,313 643,868 Container Cargo - - - - - TOTAL 13,960 135,221 491,013 768,313 643,868 LOADED General Cargo Break-Bulk 236,072 274872 726,147 1,328,041 1,686,450 Container Cargo - - 4,678 - - Sub-total 236,072 274,872 730,825 1,328,041 1,686,450 Bulk* 21,623,912 22,179,673 21,187,695 21,457,895 24,046,844 TOTAL - - 21,187,695 21,457,895 24,046,844 GRAND TOTAL 21,873,944 22,589,766 22,409,533 23,554,249 26,377,162 * No information available on the breakdown of cargo into liquid bulk and dry bulk 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. Phase I includes the expansion of the stockpile area, for Rand 170 million, to increase its capacity from 2.6 to 3.6 million tons; addition of a third stacker reclaimer and two shiploaders. Phase II is expected to begin in 2002, and will involve the refurbishment of the existing conveyor structure and the acquisition of a second tippler as well as a shunt line (tippler and shunting line at Rand 125 million). 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 South Port of Saldanha (South Africa) - PMAESA