State-owned Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) has entered into a ten-year partnership agreement with mining and materials handling equipment company Liebherr to modernise and improve the efficiency of South Africa’s port operations.

The strategic collaboration, which includes ship-to-shore (STS) cranes, rubber-tyre gantry (RTG) cranes, rail-mounted gantry cranes (RMG) and mobile harbour (LHM) cranes, also includes a 20-year asset management programme to ensure the long-term reliability and performance of the machinery.

Transnet has already placed substantial orders for Liebherr equipment, including four large STS cranes for the Port of Durban, which are currently being assembled in South Africa, and 48 RTG cranes in multiple batches for the Durban and Cape Town terminals.

Both ports have begun receiving RTG cranes, with several units having already entered service. More deliveries are scheduled over the coming months. Once commissioned, these units will significantly enhance operational capacity and efficiency, TPT says.

Additionally, the partnership agreement also incorporates RMG cranes for intermodal operations and LHM cranes to enhance flexible container handling across various terminals.

Further, the 20-year asset management programme ensures that Transnet benefits from comprehensive life-cycle support, including maintenance, repairs and parts management. Liebherr will provide local parts and service engineers, guaranteeing a prompt and efficient response to operational needs when required.

As part of the agreement, Liebherr is investing heavily in a new Competence and Distribution Centre, in Durban, that includes the Liebherr Technology Campus, a training and innovation hub offering professional training and customised solutions for Liebherr equipment and business skills.

Liebherr is also upgrading its customer service setup in Cape Town, thereby reinforcing its long-term presence in the region and ensuring 24/7 support.

Further, Transnet will benefit from Liebherr’s local expertise, a strategically managed parts supply and a dedicated customer service and support network. This ensures reliability, optimised productivity, and seamless operations.

The introduction of new Liebherr STS and RTG cranes, alongside a strengthened lifecycle management strategy, will enhance efficiency, improve cargo flow, and support continued growth at South Africa’s ports, TPT says.

“Partnering with Liebherr ensures that we have access to cutting-edge crane technology and expert support, enabling us to enhance productivity while reducing operational costs. We are committed to delivering world-class service to our customers and keeping South Africa’s ports at the forefront of global trade,” says TPT CE Jabu Mdaki.

“By partnering with Liebherr, we gain access to state-of-the-art crane technology, innovation and a wealth of technical expertise. This strategic collaboration empowers us to significantly boost operational efficiency, streamline port logistics and reduce long-term operational costs,” he says.

This partnership reflects a shared vision for the future of port infrastructure in South Africa. Together with Liebherr, TPT is working to strengthen its relationship and foster a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and mutual growth.

Joint efforts are focused on ensuring that South Africa’s ports remain competitive, resilient and at the forefront of global trade, he adds.

“The collaboration with Transnet marks a significant step forward in strengthening port operations in South Africa. With dedicated service hubs and an optimised parts supply, we are well positioned to support Transnet’s growth and ensure smooth, efficient and cost-effective operations,” says Liebherr Africa GM Lukas Sturn.

“This agreement underscores our commitment to delivering industry-leading crane solutions alongside long-term support for our partners. Through our investments in service infrastructure, local expertise and lifecycle management, we are ensuring that Transnet benefits from world-class reliability, efficiency, and performance,” Liebherr Container Cranes MD Declan O’Sullivan says.