Transnet National Ports Authority

TRANSNET NATIONAL PORTS AUTHORITY

. . . This page is currently under redevelopment . . .

Transnet National Ports Authority

Port of Durban. picture by Ian Shiffman

Transnet National Ports Authority is one of five operating divisions of Transnet SOC Ltd.

Physical Address
National Ports Authority
30 Wellington Road
Parktown
JOHANNESBURG

Postal Address
P O Box 32696
2017 Braamfontein
South Africa

Tel : +27 11 351 9001
Fax : +27 11 351 9023

See below for additional contact details

Transnet National Ports Authority is one of five operating divisions of Transnet SOC Ltd.

The National Ports Authority is responsible for the safe, effective and efficient economic functioning of the national port system, which it manages in a landlord capacity.

The National Ports Authority provides port infrastructure and marine services at the eight commercial seaports in South Africa. It operates within a legislative and regulatory environment created by the National Ports Act 2005 (Act No. 12 of 2005). In line with the provisions of the National Ports Act, the core functions of the national ports authority are as follows:

To plan, provide, maintain and improve port infrastructure;
to provide or arrange marine-related services;
to ensure the provision of port services, including the management of port activities and the port regulatory function at all south African ports; and
to provide aids to navigation and assistance to the manoeuvring of vessels within port limits and along the coast.
The National Ports Act creates a dual role for the National Ports Authority whereby it is responsible for the port regulatory function at the ports - i.e. controlling the provision of port services through licensing or entering into agreements with port operators to ensure that efficient port services are provided.

The National Ports Act also establishes the Ports Regulator of South Africa who is charged with the responsibility of
exercising economic regulation of the ports system in line with government’s strategic objectives;
promoting equity of access to the south African commercial seaports and to the facilities and services provided by these ports;
monitoring the activities of Transnet National Ports Authority to ensure that it performs it functions in accordance with this Act; and
hear complaints and appeals under the National Ports Act.
The National Ports Authority’s service offering is targeted at mainly port users (which include terminal operators, shipping lines, ship agents, cargo owners and clearing & forwarding agents). As such, it manages the eight commercial seaports along South Africa’s 2,954-km coastline. These ports are Richards Bay, Durban, East London, Ngqura, Port Elizabeth, Mossel Bay, Cape Town and Saldanha.

Its service offering is divided mainly in two categories:

(1) the provision of port infrastructure; and (2) the provision of maritime services. Maritime services include dredging, aids to navigation, ship repairs and marine operations. Port infrastructure is provided in five commodity sectors:
Containers / TEUs
Dry bulk [such as coal, iron ore, manganese, sugar, chrome ore, copper, lead, woodchips ]
Liquid bulk [such as petroleum products, chemicals, vegetable oils]
Break-bulk [such as fruit, steel, scrap steel, Ferro alloys, pig iron, fish & fish products ]; and
The automotive sector.
In view of evolving developments in the maritime industry, the National Ports Authority seeks to continue to enhance its role in facilitating trade, influencing growth through the provision of port infrastructure capacity ahead of demand; and aligning its core activities to changing market dynamics.

The National Ports Authority has developed a three-tier strategy aligned with Transnet’s Four-point Growth Strategy, with an emphasis on providing port infrastructure capacity; efficient port and port operations management; and enhancing the ports’ geographical positioning as a leading gateway for trade emanating from the eastern and western seaboards.

The strategy aims to meet the growth demands of the South African port system and focus on delivery in three main areas:
Timely delivery of capital investment projects to sustain and increase existing port infrastructure and marine capacity;
Improved efficiency in port services to promote productivity; and
Revenue growth and cost-effectiveness.
Transnet National Ports Authority handled 236 million tonnes of cargo and 13 000 vessels called at the eight South African commercial seaports for the period April 2010 to March 2011.

Business facilities and resources

Key basic infrastructure facilities-Berths and Channels
19 container berths;
36 dry-bulk berths;
29 break-bulk berths;
13 liquid-bulk berths; and
8 entrance channels with supporting breakwaters, turning basins, networks and utilities.

Key Maritime resources – craft
26 tugs;
9 pilot boats;
3 pilot helicopters;
7 work boats;
4 dredgers; and 3 survey boats.

Eight of the country’s major seaports are controlled and managed by NPA

Port of Richards Bay
P O Box 181
3900 Richards Bay
South Africa
Tel : +27 35 905 3604/3118
Fax : +27 35 905 3333

Port of Durban
P O Box 1027
4000 Durban
South Africa
Tel : +27 31 361 3755
Fax : +27 86 639 3048

Port of East London
P O Box 101
5200 East London
South Africa
Tel : +27 43 700 2300/1043
Fax : +27 43 700 2319

Port of Ngqura
P O Box 162
6000 Port Elizabeth
South Africa
Tel : +27 41 507 1800
Fax : +27 41 507 2793

Port of Port Elizabeth
P O Box 162
6000 Port Elizabeth
South Africa
Tel : +27 41 507 1885/6
Fax : +27 41 507 2793

Port of Mossel Bay
P O Box 1942
6500 Mossel Bay
South Africa
Tel : +27 44 604 6271
Fax : +27 44 604 6232

Port of Cape Town
P O Box 4245
8000 Cape Town
South Africa
Tel : +27 21 449 3408/2612
Fax : +27 21 449 3107

Port of Saldanha
Private Bag X1
7395 Saldanha
South Africa
Tel : +27 22 701 4302/4
Fax : +27 22 714 4236

Transnet National Port Authority Dredging Services
P O Box 338174
4069 Durban
South Africa
Tel : +27 31 361 8305
Fax : +27 31 361 8395

Transnet National Port Authority Lighthouse Services
P O Box 50491
8002 Waterfront, Cape Town
South Africa
Tel : +27 21 449 5171
Fax : +27 21 449 3663

Transnet National Ports Authority School of Ports

The Transnet National Ports Authority School of Ports was established in 1991 and was known as The Port Academy of South Africa. It was established with the intension of it being an in-house training provider for the comprehensive Ports Authority of South Africa, then known as Portnet.

The vast experience and expertise accumulated over the years within the Maritime Industry, enables the School of Ports to identify and facilitate knowledge transfer in port related training and business solutions specific to the customer's needs. Its philosophy is to develop partnerships with customers through which it is able to offer expert advice, on the best learning intervention that business requires.

Through the TNPA’s School of Ports global networks it ensure all its service offerings remain abreast with international best practices. Partnerships with other Education, Training and Development providers reinforce the School of Ports’ capacity to deliver comprehensive business solutions.

The following courses are in the process of being implemented:

VTS Training Program
EGPR Training Program
CMEO program
Harbour Masters Training Program
Port Management Program
ISPS Training Program
EIT internal Mentorship Program
TIT internal Mentorship Program
GIT internal Mentorship Program
OBML Artisan Training Program
ABET Training Program
Global Best Practices
SAPS Security Training

Vision

The School of Ports supports the vision of the Transnet National Ports Authority of South Africa: “To be a transformed collaborative port authority that leads economic growth in a world class port system.”

Mission

To promote economic growth by providing port training and business solutions that are amongst the best in the world.

Port Elizabeth