Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has been hard at
work, ensuring that the Port Infrastructure is well maintained to ensure the safe navigation and
berthing of all cruise vessels in the Port of Durban with the completion of the Scour Rock
Protection Project at the port’s A and B berths.
With berths A and B being the oldest berths constructed in the 1900s, this infrastructure was
initially designed without scour protection measures in place. The objective of the project is to
prevent scouring of the existing seabed as well as mitigate the risk of quay wall instability.
Since the completion of the new Nelson Mandela Cruise Terminal, these berths have now been
designated for docking cruise vessels and its modification has become imperative to ensure the
safe and efficient berthing of cruise vessels.
The enhancement of A and B berths quay infrastructure was divided into two distinct phases. The
first segment which was completed in 2020 comprised of the installation of 300-ton dual bitt
bollards and the strengthening of the quay wall by installing tie-rods and new foam fenders. The
second phase of the project commenced in May 2023 and the scope entailed the installation of
the scour protection to further strengthen the berth and prevent undermining of the toe by vessel
thrust that will be introduced by the new cruise liners.
The project scope also included extensive dredging to prepare the seabed, followed by the
installation of an 800mm thick scour rock layer of between 200kg – 400kg in weight to secure
the port’s infrastructure to prevent erosion.
“The completion of the scour protection shows the port’s dedication to environmental
sustainability, infrastructure maintenance and economic growth. We are continuously improving
our port infrastructure to ensure that vessels calling into the port are protected against any
damage and are berthed safely. The benefits of the strengthened quay wall have already been
enjoyed by the cruise vessels that we have safely docked since the 2023/24 cruise opening,” said
the TNPA Port Manager for the Port of Durban, Mpumi Dweba-Kwetana.
