The MV United Heavy Lift Fresh vessel berthed at the Durban Container Terminal (DCT) Pier 1 last week to deliver the first nine of 16 Liebherr rubber-tyred gantry crane (RTG) components. These form part of the Durban Terminals’ fleet replacement strategy to improve reliability and efficiency of port equipment.
The assembly of the nine RTG will be on-site, with handover to operations planned for May 2025. “The delivery of these RTG components is a key milestone that will significantly improve DCT Pier 1’s ability and help the terminal meet service delivery expectations,” said Earle Peters, Managing Executive at Durban Terminals.
Rubber-tyred gantry cranes are necessary for DCT Pier 1 operations as they enable the efficient movement and stacking of containers, both for inbound deliveries to the terminal and outbound shipments for loading onto vessels. Efficient container handling reduces turnaround times and improves overall port efficiency.
The final batch of seven RTG components will arrive in March 2026, with full deployment set for August 2026. As part of a strategy to enhance operational performance across its terminals, Transnet Port Terminals has invested over R744 million in the procurement of these 16 RTGs and another R1 374 million in the procurement of 28 RTGs for the Cape Town Container Terminal.
