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Durban +27 (0)31 818 0320 • Johannesburg +27 (0)11 023 4630 • Port Elizabeth +27 (0)41 811 1330 • Durban +27 (0)31 818 0320 • Johannesburg +27 (0)11 023 4630 • Port Elizabeth +27 (0)41 811 1330 • Durban +27 (0)31 818 0320 • Johannesburg +27 (0)11 023 4630 • Port Elizabeth +27 (0)41 811 1330 •

Update: Durban Port Operational Crisis

Aug 26
2 min read

Dear Valued Client


Durban Gateway Terminal (DGT / Pier 2) remains under severe operational pressure, with the impact now being felt across vessels, terminal operations, container availability, transport and tracking. The situation is creating significant volatility for importers and exporters, particularly around vessel ETAs, cargo availability and delivery planning.


Importers should expect continued changes to vessel schedules:

  • DGT vessel delays are currently around 10 days, with some services further behind.

  • Shipping-line schedules are reportedly being impacted by up to ±20 days in some cases.

  • Vessels are being delayed, rolled or short-shipped, with ETAs changing repeatedly.

  • A vessel ETA therefore cannot currently be regarded as a firm delivery planning date until the vessel is alongside and cargo operations are confirmed.


This volatility is making it increasingly difficult to provide reliable delivery dates to importers, particularly where stock is time-sensitive. The challenge is no longer only on the waterside. Landside evacuation remains severely constrained. Containers may show as discharged but remain difficult to uplift due to yard congestion and booking constraints.


Current industry feedback indicates:

  • General stack occupancy: ±90%

  • Reefer stack occupancy: ±97%

  • Waterside crane operations deliberately limited while fluidity is restored

  • Some container/truck moves taking 12–18 hours

  • Transporters experiencing difficulty obtaining bookings and completing collections within normal turnaround times

This is contributing to additional storage/demurrage exposure, delayed deliveries, manufacturing disruption and pressure on retail supply chains.


The Southern African Association of Freight Forwarders (SAAFF) has escalated the situation to DGT, ICTSI and senior Transnet leadership, with the matter also raised with the Presidency. The Presidency engaged with DGT on 21 August. SAAFF reports that operational pressure had already been building from around 7 August, before the NAVIS N4 cutover. The migration subsequently compounded existing yard, equipment, booking and landside evacuation constraints.


The current DGT disruption is also affecting the flow of terminal data into SCT’s systems. DGT is not consistently linking discharge and gate-out events to the data feed as it did previously. As a result, SCT tracking updates may be delayed or may not immediately reflect the physical movement of a container. Where required, SCT is therefore verifying movements directly with the terminal, shipping line and transporter.


SCT is closely monitoring vessel schedules, discharge and collection opportunities and will communicate material changes as reliable information becomes available. For now, clients should please allow additional contingency in both import and export planning and avoid relying on a vessel ETA as a guaranteed delivery period. Our priority remains to keep clients informed and secure the earliest possible movement of cargo within the operational constraints currently affecting Durban Port.


We will continue to monitor the situation and provide further updates as conditions develop.


 
 
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