Browsing by Author "Scholtz, Carl"
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- ItemDurban container terminal: capacity analysis and the feasibility of a dry port(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2017-03) Scholtz, Carl; Schoonees, J. S.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Civil Engineering.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis presents an analysis of the Durban Container Terminal (DCT), which consists of Pier 1 and Pier 2. The study was conducted due to the DCT reaching its maximum capacity in the next few years. The main objective of this report was to identify the constraints which limit the annual container throughput, and to provide solutions to increase the annual container throughput capacity for the DCT. The container throughput levels were analysed and projections were made. The capacity limiting constraints of the DCT were calculated and analysed. The study found that the container stacking yards were limiting the annual container throughput for Pier 1 and Pier 2. The annual container throughput that the stacking yards could handle was significantly less than the container throughput that the berths could physically achieve. It was calculated that the maximum capacity of the DCT was 3 600 000 TEU moves/year. This study found that the DCT would reach its maximum operating capacity between 2020 and 2024, under the current infrastructure. Two expansion projects have been implemented by TNPA to increase overall capacity of the container terminal. The first was the deepening, widening and lengthening of berths on DCT Pier 2. Additionally, expansion plans include the reclamation of land between DCT Pier 1 and the Salisbury Island naval base. The effect that the proposed expansions would have on the capacity limiting constraints of the DCT were analysed. The expansions were calculated to increase the annual container capacity to around 5.2 million TEU moves/year. The equivalent container stacking yard capacity would still be limiting the DCT after the expansions are complete. From the analysis of container throughput projections for the DCT it was found that the terminal, after proposed expansions were complete, would reach its maximum operating capacity between 2027 and 2036. The study analysed solutions to further increase the capacity of the DCT. The change in the stacking system from straddle carriers to a RTG “1 over 5” for Pier 2 was analysed. It was established that the above-mentioned change in stacking system would increase the annual capacity of DCT by around 980 000 TEU moves/year, to around 6 200 000 TEU moves/year. The change in stacking system was deduced to increase the overall capacity of the DCT, but a shortfall was still present between the equivalent container stacking yard capacity and the throughput that the berths could achieve. The effect of reducing the container dwell time was analysed and it was established that the concept would greatly increase the overall container capacity of the DCT. The ‘Masterplan’ is a solution that is recommended, which includes the above-mentioned change in stacking strategy, along with active dwell time control and the use of a dry port. The dry port concept would enable the DCT to implement strict container dwell time control, whereby containers exceeding a dwell time of 4 days would be transported to/from a dry port, via a shuttle train. The use of a dry port as part of the ‘Masterplan’ would increase the capacity of the DCT to around 7.05 million TEU moves/year. Two locations were identified for the dry port site: the Bayhead Road site, which is located very close to the DCT and would allow for cost effective transportation of containers; the old Durban Airport site, which would require a much larger capital input than the Bayhead Road site. The Bayhead Road site can also make use of all the rail and road connections that serve the DCT, whereas the old Durban Airport site would require excessive construction to connect with the rail networks. The Bayhead Road site was deduced to be the most feasible location for a dry port. The dry port concept is deduced as a feasible and plausible alternative for the DCT to increase its maximum annual container throughput capacity.