The Cape Town Container Terminal (CTCT) has officially put nine brand-new rubber-tyred gantry cranes (RTGs) into service, a move Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) says will sharpen turnaround times and improve reliability for shipping lines using the port.
The cranes, unveiled this week, form part of a bigger 28-unit investment that TPT announced earlier this year. Back in April, Transnet confirmed the cranes had arrived in parts from German manufacturer Liebherr and were being assembled on-site. Today, nine of those machines are no longer just in assembly yards — they’re lifting boxes.
What sets these hybrid RTGs apart is their technology mix. They carry anti-sway systems, onboard 3D video guidance, and the ability to keep operating in winds of up to 90 kilometres per hour — a crucial benefit for a port often paralysed by Cape Town’s notorious gusts.
Shippers and transporters have long flagged wind delays as one of the terminal’s biggest weaknesses. With these new cranes now live, TPT is promising a step-change in resilience. “Our focus is on building a terminal that can perform consistently in all conditions,” the operator said.
The nine new units are only the start. The rollout is being staged in phases, with a further nine cranes expected to join later this year, followed by the final ten. This approach avoids major disruption while gradually modernising the yard’s container-handling fleet.
For exporters, especially during the critical fruit season, the timing is welcome. Cape Town’s container port has been under pressure to reduce congestion and vessel waiting times. With nine new cranes now fully operational — and nearly 20 more on the way — Transnet is signalling that recovery at CTCT is finally gaining traction.
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