TRANSNET SOC Ltd has launched four new ship-to-shore cranes worth R967 million at Durban Container Terminal Pier 2, replacing ageing equipment that had reached end-of-life as part of efforts to enhance cargo-handling capacity at Africa’s busiest container facility.
Two of the cranes are being commissioned, with endurance testing and operational handover scheduled to begin in the last week of October. The remaining two cranes are undergoing assembly and are expected to be commissioned and handed over by the end of November, the state-owned ports and rail operator said.
The new fleet forms part of Transnet Port Terminals’ capital expenditure program to strengthen cargo-handling equipment across its container terminals. In March, TPT deployed 20 straddle carriers and nine rubber-tyred gantries at DCT Pier 2 and Pier 1, respectively. The company has allocated R4 billion for equipment acquisition across its operations in the 2025/26 financial year.
The investment is already yielding results, with DCT Pier 2 recording a 28.8% year-on-year increase during the recently concluded citrus season, Transnet said.
German manufacturer Liebherr Africa supplied the cranes, which feature advanced technology and reduced energy consumption. The equipment includes increased lifting capacity designed to improve loading and unloading efficiency for calling vessels.
“The arrival and commissioning of these STS cranes represent more than just steel and technology. It is a reinforcement of Transnet’s commitment to improving service offering through investment in new equipment,” said Transnet Group Chief Executive Michelle Phillips at Thursday’s launch.
Phillips said the new cranes would enable faster vessel turnaround times and operations in higher wind conditions to match “world-class efficiency that global trade demands.”
She added that faster cargo processing at terminals directly supports South Africa’s export-led growth strategy, boosting global trade competitiveness and economic prosperity.
Durban Container Terminal Pier 2 is the largest and busiest container facility in Southern Africa, handling 60% of the country’s container volumes. The terminal is currently the only facility in Africa equipped with tandem lift cranes capable of carrying 80 tons at a time.
