The motor vessel United Heavy Lift Fresh berthed at the Durban Container Terminal (DCT) Pier 1 last week to deliver the first nine of 16 Liebherr rubber-tyred gantry crane (RTG) component batches.
These form part of the Durban Terminals’ fleet replacement strategy to improve reliability and efficiency of port equipment.
The assembly of the nine RTG component sets will take place on site, with handover to operations planned for May next year.
“The delivery of these RTG components is a key milestone that will significantly improve DCT Pier 1’s ability and help the terminal meet service delivery expectations,” Durban Terminals managing executive Earle Peters said on November 26.
RTG cranes are necessary for DCT Pier 1 operations, as they enable the efficient movement and stacking of containers, both for inbound deliveries to the terminal and outbound shipments for loading onto vessels. Efficient container handling reduces turnaround times and improves overall port efficiency.
The final batch of seven RTG component sets will arrive in March 2026, with full deployment set for August 2026.
As part of a strategy to enhance operational performance across its terminals, Transnet Port Terminals has invested more than R744-million in the procurement of these 16 RTGs and another R1.37-billion in the procurement of 28 RTGs for the Cape Town Container Terminal. 