Cruise season sets sail
TWENTY-five cruise ships are expected to call at the Port of Richards Bay as the 2022/23 season kicks off.
About 240 cruise ship call-ins are expected at ports across the country between this month until April next year.
Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) said this season is expected to attract more tourists amid the easing of global Covid-19 regulations.
"The increase of passenger liners calling at our ports is based primarily on the fact that we are in the post Covid-19 phase.
"We take pride in our role of enabling the South African tourism industry, which was hard hit by the pandemic,” said TNPA chief harbour master Captain Rufus Lekala.
During the 2021/22 season, just 20 cruise ships arrived in the country, with
71 call-ins at the various ports.
The commencement of the new season comes as work continues to stabilise operations at ports following recent strike action which caused major backlogs.
"At the ports, focus remains on clearing the vessel backlog at anchorage and alongside the quay, including bulk, break bulk and containers. Evacuation of imports out of the port is under way to create fluidity within the terminals, with the immediate focus being on perishable and time-sensitive cargo," said Transnet spokesperson Ayanda Shezi.
Meanwhile, a force majeure that was declared at Transnet Port Terminal's (TPT) automotive, bulk and multi-purpose terminals during industrial action was lifted last week.
The entity said the force majeure at container terminals, however, remains in place until the end of October.
"The extent of the backlogs in the container terminals, and the resultant impact to operations, mean the force majeure declared for the container terminals will remain in place, with TPT anticipating it will be ready to lift it by 31 October," said Shezi.