THE R7-billion mega project to deepen and lengthen berths at Durban Container Terminal (DCT) has reached a key milestone as the Main Marine Construction Works package goes out to tender this month.

Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) said in a statement this week that this follows the two environmental approvals secured from the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) last year for marine and landside works. The tender process for the landside works will follow at a later stage they said. TNPA Chief Executive, Richard Vallihu, said: “The continued investment in infrastructure and modernisation of our flagship Port of Durban is pivotal in meeting the ever-increasing demands of the maritime industry, in particular the ever-increasing size of container vessels pulling into our ports.”

Valihu said the berth reconstruction, deepening and lengthening project was aimed at promoting economic growth.

He added that Pier 2 handled about 65 per cent of the total containerised cargo of South Africa and is the main link to the country’s industrial and economic hub, Gauteng.