Port of Durban


The Port of Durban, commonly called Durban Harbour, is the largest and busiest shipping terminal in sub-Saharan Africa. It handles up to 31.4 million tons of cargo each year. It is the fourth largest container terminal in the Southern Hemisphere, handling 2,568,124 TEU in 2012.

Port statistics

The port has recently been widened. The harbor entrance depth is now in the approach channel decreasing to 16 metres within the harbour. The navigation width is now.

Port facilities

Berths

opened in 1998, with a capacity of 60,000 vehicles a year. In 2004 a 100-million-Rand expansion brought the number of bays to 6,500. This included a 380m bridge linking the terminal to the quayside, improving vessel turnaround time and improving security.

Cruise terminal

bases the MSC Musica in Durban from November to April every year. From the 2019/2020 Southern Africa cruise season MSC Cruises will be basing the newer MSC Orchestra in Durban. Many other cruise ships pass through Durban every year, including some of the world's biggest, such as the RMS Queen Mary 2.
The tender to build the R215 million Durban Cruise Terminal was awarded to KwaZulu Cruise Terminal Ltd which is 70% owned by MSC Cruises SA and 30% by Africa Armada Consortium. The terminal will be able to accommodate two cruise ships at any given time.

Naval facilities

, situated on Salisbury Island, is part of the Port of Durban. Established during the Second World War, it was downgraded to a naval station in 2002. In 2012 a decision was made to renovate and expand the facilities back up to a full naval base to accommodate the South African Navy's offshore patrol flotilla. In December 2015 it was redesignated a naval base. It is the home port of three Warrior-class interim offshore patrol vessels which will be replaced by a new patrol flotilla within four to five years.