Maritime summit to boost Durban's growth

A planned maritime summit is expected to give SA’s second most important economic sector a huge boost.

Durban - Durban is to stage a high-powered summit to deal with issues affecting the city’s maritime sector.

The summit is being driven by the eThekwini Maritime Cluster (EMC) and the municipality.

EMC is a maritime non-profit organisation that aims to develop the maritime sector in Durban.

At the launch event in Durban last week, Deputy Mayor Nomvuzo Shabalala said: “Right now we need to grow our business confidence in Durban. Commodity prices have dipped, plunging major centres like Gauteng, Limpopo and the Free State into a very worrying situation.”

Because of the size of the port, Durban had a big role to play in the country’s economy, she said. “Did you know that the Durban Metropolitan area is the main economic driver in KwaZulu-Natal, contributing over half of the province’s output, employment and income?

“Durban is the second most important economic centre after Gauteng, accounting for 15% of national output, 14% of household income and 11% of national employment,” she added.

Chief executive of Transnet Port Terminals Karl Socikwa said: “With a shift in freight transport from road to rail and a more efficient logistics system which provides the backbone for a more competitive economy, it is predicted that the maritime sector, including logistics and transport, should become the biggest area of growth for the local economy.”

He said ports should focus on social well-being and not be driven solely by profit.

Socikwa said it was unfortunate that the anti-terrorism measure, the International Ship and Port Facilitation Security Code, 10 years ago “excluded residents from ports”.

He said there was a need to create Smart Port cities that would include residents.

The conference will run on February 23 and 24.

* The Fred Olsen Cruise Lines ship, Boudicca (named after Boadicea, the great English queen), which called into Durban for the first time on Thursday during her round-Africa cruise, could well end up using Durban as a regular port-of-call.

Local travel agents who were invited on board for a tour of what the ship had to offer, were told the company was looking at the possibility of placing the Boudicca in South African waters for the October 2017 to March 2018 cruise season, to carry out coastal and Indian Ocean island itineraries. The itineraries, ports and logistists still have to be finalised.

Daily News