A R140 million general bulk ship-loader is the latest addition in Transnet Port Terminal’s R33 billion Market Demand Strategy investment programme.

Custom-built to complement the terminal’s operational envelope, the loader was designed in Austria and built in China; however, South African engineering company SANDVIK has managed its entire procurement.

Its capacity is a guaranteed 2 500 tph at a bulk density of 1.9 t/m^3.The linear travelling loader will be suitable for all export commodities the terminal handles including coal, magnetite, chrome and chloride.

Just over 70% of the terminal’s total commercial trade is export. The addition of equipment is aimed at the Market Demand Strategy’s promise of facilitating unconstrained growth, unlocking demand and creating world-class port operations through improved efficiencies.

A skills transfer opportunity has also been created through SANDVIK where Transnet Port Terminal operators and the technical team will be trained for sustainable operations. The preassembled loader will be offloaded and installed upon arrival to undergo commissioning.

The machine is scheduled to be fully operationalby April 2013.

Photo – Celebrating the arrival of the Richards Bay Terminal’s new R140 million ship loader were (from left to right): chief maintenance officer, Shane Narainsamy; project managers Alec Schemel and Kris Naidoo; terminal manager, Victor Mkhize and general manager: Capital Projects and Maintenance, Logan Naidoo.