New, high-tech cranes set to improve efficiency at Cape Town port

CapeTalk's John Maytham is joined by the Mayor of Cape Town, Geordin Hill-Lewis.

There's excitement around the future of Cape Town's port through the impact of major Transnet investments in new machinery.

The delivery of dozens of new cranes bodes well for the local economy, says Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis.

They utilise critical anti-sway technology to protect operations from Cape Town's famously strong winds.

Transnet officially launched the new ‘rubber-tyred gantry’ (RTG) cranes for the port's container terminal on Wednesday.

High winds have been an ever-present brake on port efficiency, notes Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, James Vos

"Exporters (were) at times forced to divert their goods to other ports in Durban, Gqeberha and elsewhere at huge cost. Now, with this new anti-sway crane technology, we're optimistic that operations should be a lot smoother, with these new cranes able to withstand winds up to 90km."

James Vos, Mayco Member for Economic Growth - CoCT

Hill-Lewis says 19 of the cranes have arrived, with nine still to be delivered.

He explains in layman's terms what their purpose is.

"There are enormous cranes basically that take the containers and move them around the stacks and put them on the trucks and get them out of the port, or into the port as the case may be."

Geordin Hill-Lewis, Mayor of Cape Town

He says these machines with their new tech will, and have already started to make a meaningful difference to the speed and efficiency of the port, 'which is much, much needed'.

"The export community in the City tells me that this is the best year in terms of port efficiency and performance that they've had in many years and that they can see noticeable improvements... but we must remember that this is coming off a very low base."

Geordin Hill-Lewis, Mayor of Cape Town

The Mayor says this momentum must be maintained by including private sector investmentand management at the port

According to research from the Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism, an efficient port could create 20 000 new jobs, add R6 billion in exports and over R1,6 billion in new tax revenue.

Hear more from the Mayor in the interview audio at the top of the article