FRIDAY, 11.00AM:
PORTNET, the ports and harbours subsidiary of transport parastatal Transnet, announced on Thursday that it is planning to invest R7-billion over the next five years on constructing, maintaining and upgrading its harbours nationwide.
Transnet’s executive director in charge of Portnet, Rob Childs, said R1,5-billion will be invested this financial year, with the balance spread over five years.
The port operator also announced on Thursday that it is to spend R50-million buying two helicopters to help its harbour operations on the KwaZulu-Natal coast. The helicopters will be used for delivering harbour pilots to inbound shipping traffic. Portnet spokesman Pieter Smit said helicopters can cut the 40 minutes it takes to reach inbound ships by boat to just under seven minutes. Accordingly, after an 18-month decision period, Portnet has chosen two Italian-built Agusta 109K2 helicopters at a cost of R25-million each.
Portnet’s capital expenditure programme has risen sharply in the past few years, with a number of new projects on the go. One of Portnet’s largest projects in the pipeline is a deep-water port at Coega, near Port Elizabeth.