'How we got it right’ -- Terry Gale on why Cape Town is no longer the world’s worst container port 

Much-needed infrastructure investment helped Cape Town Port rise from being the world’s worst container port, to being the most improved, according to Port Liaison Forum chairperson Terry Gale. 

The welcome reprieve is the result of effective public-private partnership, which saw Cape Town’s Container Port Performance Index score improve by 240 points between 2023 and 2024, according to the latest World Bank Container Port report.  

“This was achieved by investment in new cranes and equipment, upgraded warehousing capacity and introducing innovative measures such as hydraulic shore tension units and a predictive wind model with the CSIR to mitigate weather– related disruptions,” said Port Liaison Forum chairperson Terry Gale.

“The good news is that this is just the start of improved efficiencies in the port as the new RTGs were only commissioned this year, the STS gantries continue being repaired and upgraded and a new helicopter is in the current budget,” Gale told Cape Chamber.  

Gale said the World Bank accolade should be tempered by Cape Town’s actual Port ranking near the bottom of the global list – 400 out of 403, with Durban in last place and Coega second last. Said Gale: “Cognisance must be taken more on the status of improvement than on its actual listing and the important strategic role the Cape of Good Hope plays, as a safe and reliable routing, albeit longer.” 

“The jury is still out on the calculation of the world’s best ports. However, one thing is for sure that as a scenic port, Cape Town beats them all!”  

“We’re on the right path,”  Gale said.