‘No Fuel Supply or Congestion Concerns at Cape Town Port’ -- TNPA

It’s business as usual at the Port of Cape Town, with only two ships calling this week to date as a result of being rerouted due to the conflict in the Middle East, according to the latest update from Transnet National Ports Authority.

In a presentation to the Cape Town Port Liaison Forum, TNPA said it is also closely monitoring the fuel supply situation, although currently there are no concerns about a shortage.

The diverted ships had called at the port for bunkering and provisioning.

“TNPA is monitoring (vessel traffic) on a daily and weekly basis and will be able to give an update to the PLF in terms of numbers, to see if we will continue to see an increase and what that will look like,” said Lorraine Mabindisa, TNPA Corporate Affairs Manager (Port of Cape Town).

The Port has emphasised that there is currently no congestion at the Port as a result of ships rerouting around the Cape of Good Hope, as reported by some media earlier this month.  

TNPA also reported progress with its new Integrated Port Management System, with ship repair clients now able to book online for the Robinson Drydock.  Work is also progressing on TNPA’s plans for a floating dock in Cape Town Port, a move expected to bolster job creation in the local ship repair industry.  

PLF chairperson Terry Gale said exporters remained concerned about potential negative impacts related to the Middle East, in particular concerns about upcoming citrus exports.

Stone fruit, Pome fruit (apples and pears), and table grapes have already been affected, with about 1.6 million fruit cartons still ‘on the water’ -- unable to reach its scheduled destination. 

“We have been able to transfer a lot of it into places like India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh,” Gale told the PLF. “We are now looking at our citrus, and we hope the war is over by the time of peak citrus exports because it is a vital export for us,” he said.