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Woman crane driver makes history at New Port of Nqura
[NGQURA – 07 October 2009] Woman power ruled when at 1.30pm on Sunday 4 October 2009, the crane which lifted the first container off the inaugural commercial vessel to discharge at the new deepwater Port of Ngqura was operated by a female crane driver.
Nozuko Caroline Ndevulana became a trailblazer when, seated at the controls of a Megamax ship-to-shore crane, she picked up the first container off the MSC Catania which had earlier that day entered the port at 11.38am.“I am so proud to have been part of history in the making whilst also contributing towards the economy of the country,” she said.
Caroline is a seasoned crane operator – in addition to STS cranes, she is also certified on Rail Mounted Gantries. She joined Transnet Port Terminals’ container terminal in Port Elizabeth in 2002 as an articulated vehicle driver before progressing to the ranks of operator on straddle carriers as well as cranes.
The MSC Catania loaded and off-loaded a total of 275 containers. An average of 19 containers was handled per hour.
The second commercial vessel to call at Ngqura - the 275 metre long, MSC Shanghai with a draft of 14,5m - entered the port on Tuesday 06 October to discharge cargo at the Ngqura container terminal.
This was the first time the large vessel was able to call in Port Elizabeth and it took advantage of the Port of Ngqura’s deep water capacity with an entrance channel depth of 18m and a basin depth of 16m.
The MSC Shanghai off-loaded 50 containers and loaded 101 containers - on average 17 containers were handled per hour.
The Port of Ngqura and its 60 hectare container terminal represent Transnet’s solution to South Africa’s long-time lack of container capacity due to the considerable growth in container traffic.
To date Transnet has invested in excess of R10 billion to develop the state-of-the-art port and associated infrastructure, which will boast the world class two-berth container terminal (with a further two berths under construction), a two-berth multipurpose terminal and a one-berth liquid bulk terminal.
The Port of Ngqura’s advantage over other ports in Africa is that it is a deep-water port with a depth of between 16 and 18 metres, which can accommodate the new generation container vessels.
Issued by:
Jozi Donjeany
Simeka TWS Communications
Cell: 079898 2211
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On behalf of:
Lunga Ngcobo
GM: Corporate Communications
Transnet Port Terminals
Mobile: 083 288 9653
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For more info:
Hector Danisa
Business Unit Executive
Tel. 041 507 1803
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