PORT OF PE ENDS CITRUS SEASON ON A HIGH
PRESS RELEASE
EASTERN CAPE PORTS END CITRUS SEASON ON A HIGHLIGHT
[Port Elizabeth, 15 September 2020] Transnet National Ports Authority’s (TNPA) Port of PE docked the last official specialised reefer fruit vessel calling to load citrus from the Eastern Cape through its Multi-Purpose Terminal, destined for faraway markets. The Nelson Mandela Bay ports of PE and Ngqura celebrate a total of approximately 460 000 pallets of fruit moving across its shores this year, an estimated 44% increase from the previous year.
The MV Lady Rosebud docked at Berth 10/11 to discharge 45 empty reefer containers and to load 215 pallets of citrus fruit, 46 full reefer containers with citrus fruit and 37 empty reefer containers. The vessel left the Port of Durban for PE and will sail from PE to Cape Town, with her cargo destined for Lisbon, Rotterdam and St Petersburg. The terminal operators managing the cargo handling through both the container and multi-purpose terminals are Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) and Bidfreight Port Operations (BPO) in the Port of PE and TPT in the Port of Ngqura.
[Port Elizabeth, 15 September 2020] Transnet National Ports Authority’s (TNPA) Port of PE docked the last official specialised reefer fruit vessel calling to load citrus from the Eastern Cape through its Multi-Purpose Terminal, destined for faraway markets. The Nelson Mandela Bay ports of PE and Ngqura celebrate a total of approximately 460 000 pallets of fruit moving across its shores this year, an estimated 44% increase from the previous year.
The MV Lady Rosebud docked at Berth 10/11 to discharge 45 empty reefer containers and to load 215 pallets of citrus fruit, 46 full reefer containers with citrus fruit and 37 empty reefer containers. The vessel left the Port of Durban for PE and will sail from PE to Cape Town, with her cargo destined for Lisbon, Rotterdam and St Petersburg. The terminal operators managing the cargo handling through both the container and multi-purpose terminals are Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) and Bidfreight Port Operations (BPO) in the Port of PE and TPT in the Port of Ngqura.
A challenging season
“This year was a challenging season due to COVID-19 and the worldwide shortage of reefer containers. The shortage meant the resurgence of palletised fruit exports through specialised reefer ships, however, this challenge also presented an opportunity for the Port of PE. It enabled the port to play a complementary role, especially through its Multi-Purpose Terminal due to challenges experienced by the ports of Durban and Cape Town. COVID-19 impacted the economy negatively as a whole, but it did not negatively impact citrus exports from South Africa, given our COVID-19 compliance, dedication and the record crops achieved,” said Captain Faisal Sultan, the port’s Senior Operations Manager.
The MV Lady Rosebud arrived in the port on 13 September 2020 and will be leaving the Port of PE for Cape Town on Wednesday, 16 September 2020.
