Port Nolloth, located on the north-western coast of South Africa, now boasts new infrastructure following a R39 million rehabilitation project by the Transnet National Ports Authority.

The infrastructure upgrade was carried out over 14 months by contractor Steffanuti Stocks Marine and included the refurbishment of the jetty structure, concrete and quay infrastructure.  In addition the quayside fender systems and revetment works were replaced to address erosion of the shore line.

According to Mpumi Dweba-Kwetana, Port of Cape Town Port Manager the project forms part of a longer term plan to develop Port Nolloth into a port that offers greater economic opportunities for the people of the area.

“It is one of several projects that we as TNPA are proud to be fulfilling as an implementing agency in the Marine Transport and Manufacturing (MTM) delivery unit of the South African government’s Operation Phakisa: Oceans Economy initiative,” she explains.

Port Nolloth is one of six development nodes identified by the South African government to be developed over time into a world-class and sustainable coastal and marine tourism destination under Operation Phakisa: Oceans Economy.

Supporting offshore activities

Dweba-Kwetana says the improved port infrastructure will better enable Port Nolloth to support offshore activities.

The port, founded in the late 1800s as an export facility for copper from mines located in the Springbok area, is now used as an offshore supply base of De Beers Group Services.

The company has held a five-year lease agreement to use the port as an offshore supply base for conducting diamond prospecting activity in Namibia, with Smit Amandla (now operating as African Marine Solutions Group) supply vessels stationed at the port used to transfer supplies to De Beers’ offshore prospecting vessels.

Dweba-Kwetana, whose portfolio includes Port Nolloth, adds that the refurbished port would continue to serve as a support facility to the fishing and offshore mining industries.