Where Is Transnet In Cape Town ?
Cape Town – Transnet National Ports Authority
| P O Box 4245, Cape Town, 8001 Transnet National Ports Authority House • Port of Cape Town 8001 • South Africa |
| Tel: 0860 109 330 • Fax: +27 21 449 2665 Email: customercare.tnpa@transnet.net |
LOCATION Latitude 33˚ 54’S, Longitude 18˚ 26’E
The Port of Cape Town lies in the shadow of Table Mountain, approximately 120 nautical miles north west of Cape Agulhas – strategically positioned almost at the southern tip of the African continent. The port serves cargoes moving between Europe and the western hemisphere and the Middle East and Australia, especially containers. Over the centuries Cape Town has evolved from a staging post on a major east-west trade route into a modern, full service general cargo port renowned for deciduous fruit and fish exports.
Port Information & Services
| ADVISING ETA To VTS/Port Control, 72 hours prior to arrival at the Fairway Buoy. AIRPORT Cape Town International Airport is served by major world airlines with scheduled flights to all parts of the globe, either direct or via Johannesburg. ANCHORAGES To the north of the pilot boarding point (the Fairway Buoy), with a depth of 20-25m. During winter months (April to September) north and northwest winds are frequent. Vessels should be prepared to proceed to sea at short notice at the approach of bad weather. APPROACHES Via VTS lanes. BALLAST Vessels should be sufficiently ballasted to navigate safely within the harbour. BANKING All major South African and international banks are represented in Cape Town. BERTHS There are 34 berths ranging up to 318.5m length. See page 54 for details. BUNKERS There are bunkering points at some berths, supplying fuel oil, gas oil and blended fuels. Bunkers are also supplied by barge. Diesel oil is not available. Bunkers are supplied by Joint Bunkering Services, a joint venture between BP South Africa, Caltex Oil, Shell SA and Engen Petroleum, allowing customers to choose their supplier while gaining the benefit of economies through the shared distribution system. CARGO HANDLING The port deploys a wide range of modern, standard and specialised equipment as appropriate to terminal operations. CONSULAR All leading maritime nations are represented. |
CRUISE SHIPS There are no dedicated areas within the Port for cruise liners. They are berthed at E and J berths in the Duncan Dock or at the Eastern mole area depending on space availability and vessel size. DEPTH The depth at the entrance channel is 15.9m, with 15.4m at the entrance to Duncan Dock and 14m at the entrance to Ben Schoeman Dock. The depth in Duncan Dock varied between 9.9m near the repair quay to 12.4m at the tanker basin. Ben Schoeman Dock varies from 9m to 15.5m depth. EMERGENCIES Contact Port Control on Channel 14 & 16 or Tel.: +27 21-449-2805. FISHING INDUSTRY Cape Town is the major base for the fishing industry of the region with sophisticated facilities for processing catches and the maintenance of the international fleets. FRESH WATER Available at all berths on request. HAZARDOUS CARGO Arrangements for the handling of hazardous cargo must be made through the Harbour Master. Vessels carrying explosives or dangerous goods are restricted to arrival and movement within the port during daylight hours. HOURS OF BUSINESS The Port of Cape Town is open 24 hours, 365 days of the year. Working hours at individual terminals and facilities are: Agri & Ro-Ro Terminal 24 hours (not Christmas Day, New Year’s Day) General Cargo Mon to Fri: 24 hours (not Christmas Day, New Year’s Day) Sat: 07:00 – 15:00, 18:00 – 22:0 on request Sun: 08:00 – 16:00, 18:00 – 22:00 on request Public holidays: 08:00 – 16:00 Container Terminal 362 days (not Christmas Day, New years Day or May 1) Port office hours 08:00 – 16:00, Monday to Friday (not public holidays) Tankers If carrying hazardous cargoes, berthing and unberthing only during daylight hours. |
INFORMATION Weather bulletins and reports available from Cape Town Radio/ZSC. Coastal weather bulletins via Navtex at 12:20 and 16:20 hours. PASSENGER TERMINAL Facilities for cruise ships are provided at No 2 jetty in the Victoria Basin or at E-Berth in the Duncan Dock. PILOTAGE For all vessels requesting pilotage services, one hour of advance notice is required to VTS/Port Control on channel 14. Pilot ladders must comply with SOLAS regulations. PILOT BOARDING POSITION Off the Fairway buoy PORT LIMITS Westwards by straight line between Green Point and Robben Island lighthouses, northwards by straight line from Robben Island, eastwards to the eastern shore of Table Bay, southwards along the high water mark to include the foreshore to the castle – and back to the Green Point Lighthouse. RADIO The calling frequency for VTS/Port Control Cape Town (call sign ZSC) is VHF Channel 14. Cape Town Radio also uses HF channels: 421, 821, 1221 and 1621 and monitors Morse code transmissions on 500 kHz, R/T on channel 2182 and digital selective calling channels on: 4207.5, 6312.0, 8414.5, 12577.0 and 16804.5 kHz. Distress and safety traffic is conducted on 4125, 6215, 8291, 12290 and 16420 kHz. SHIP REPAIR There are two dry docks; a repair quay and ship lift facilities. SHIP’S AGENTS Leading South African and world ship’s agents are represented at Cape Town. STEVEDORING Cape Town stevedoring companies offer services including cargo stowage, lashing and securing, cargo breakout, stowage planning, and operation of ship’s equipment, hatch and tank cleaning. Duncan Dock Cold Storage Stevedoring Services offer clients a one-stop service. |
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| STORAGE The Port of Cape Town has a comprehensive range of covered and open storage facilities. TIDE The tide fall at Cape Town is 1.2m. TRANSPORTATION The Port of Cape Town has direct access to the South Africa trunk road network as well as excellent rail infrastructure connecting with all South Africa’s major cities as well as to countries further north. |
WATER DENSITY Seawater density in the harbour is 1.025g/cm³. WEATHER The Cape Town region enjoys a Mediterranean climate, but also subject to the special factors of its southern latitude. During the winter months (April to September) north and northwest winds backing to the southwest are frequent. Westerly gales can cause heavy range action at berths; in the summer (October to March) the prevailing wind is from the southeast popularly known as the Cape Doctor, which can reach gale force at times. |
USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS (when telephoning from outside South Africa, replace the ‘0’ in the national area code with +27) Port Control 021 449 2805 Harbour Master 021 449 5762 Port Engineer 021 449 6173 Port Manager 021 449 2612 Agri Ro-Ro 021 449 2405 Container Manager 021 449 4251 Container Terminal (24 hours) 021 449 3391 Marketing 021 449 2142 EMERGENCY NUMBER Flying Squad 10111 Fire 021 461 4141 Sea Rescue 021 449 3500 Police 021 419 0260 |
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