Next-gen cranes enhance Durban port capacity

TRANSNET has introduced four new ship-to-shore cranes valued at R967 million at the Durban Container Terminal Pier 2 to enhance the terminal’s operational efficiency, cargo-handling capacity, and competitiveness. The new cranes will replace an old fleet which has reached the end of its lifecycle.
Two of the cranes are being commissioned, with endurance testing and operational handover scheduled to start in the last week of October 2025.

The remaining two cranes are being assembled and are planned to undergo commissioning and operational handover by the end of November 2025.

The new fleet is part of Transnet Port Terminal’s (TPT’s) capital expenditure to strengthen the cargo-handling fleet across its container terminals. In March 2025, TPT unveiled 20 straddle carriers and nine rubber-tyred gantries (RTGs) for Durban Container Terminal (DCT) Pier 2 and Pier 1, respectively.

According to Transnet, this investment is already yielding tangible results, which is affirmed by the recently concluded citrus season, where DCT Pier 2 recorded an impressive year-on-year increase of 28.8%.

TPT has set aside R4 billion on acquiring equipment across its business this financial year (2025/26).
Original equipment manufacturer, Liebherr Africa has equipped the cranes with the latest technology and minimised environmental impact demonstrated by its reduced energy consumption. Positioned at the terminal’s edge, the cranes boast advanced cargo-handling features, including increased lifting capacity, to efficiently load and unload containers on calling vessels.

Speaking during the launch of the ship-to-shore (STS) cranes on 23 October, Transnet group chief executive, Michelle Phillips said: “The arrival and commissioning of these STS cranes represents more than just steel and technology. It is a reinforcement of Transnet’s commitment to improving service offering through investment in new equipment. These cranes will enable us to turn vessels faster, to operate at higher winds and match the world-class efficiency that global trade demands.”