Ah...so we do have a history that pre-dates 1994. The Mercury carried a multi page supplement commemorating the centenary of Durban becoming an international port. On the 26 June, 1904, the Union-Castle mail ship Armadale Castle steamed into Durban harbour. The day was declared a holiday and people flocked to the docks to view the ship. Special guests had even been brought down from Johannesburg by train for the event.
Why the fuss? Well prior to this only ships of low tonnage and shallow draught had been able to cross the sand bar at the entrance to the bay. Larger vessels had to anchor offshore and have cargoes and passengers shipped via lighters to and from land.
Earlier engineers had grappled with the difficulties of entering the bay. One scheme was to create a harbour off the present Addington Beach. The man behind this, Captain Vetch, had a semi-circular stone pier constructed to form an enclosure. But to no avail, although the pier is still visible at low tide and still bears his name. Other names attached to similar schemes have slipped into history.
Eventually – and to cut a long blog short - it was found that a combination of dredging, alignment of the North and South Piers and tidal scour would provide the required deep water entrance and this is where the Armadale Castle (literally)came in. The port opened to world shipping.
The Port of Durban now handles the most goods in Africa. Being the only thing in SA approaching a natural harbour it makes its sister ports in Southern Africa look like barge and dingy affairs. But I do feel that the authorities have built themselves into a corner by the continual filling in of the once vast bay. It is now only approximately one-third its original size at the high water mark. A second port at Isipingo is being spoken about but this depends on the airport moving and all is still on the drawing board, computer screen or wherever.
Why the fuss? Well prior to this only ships of low tonnage and shallow draught had been able to cross the sand bar at the entrance to the bay. Larger vessels had to anchor offshore and have cargoes and passengers shipped via lighters to and from land.
Earlier engineers had grappled with the difficulties of entering the bay. One scheme was to create a harbour off the present Addington Beach. The man behind this, Captain Vetch, had a semi-circular stone pier constructed to form an enclosure. But to no avail, although the pier is still visible at low tide and still bears his name. Other names attached to similar schemes have slipped into history.
Eventually – and to cut a long blog short - it was found that a combination of dredging, alignment of the North and South Piers and tidal scour would provide the required deep water entrance and this is where the Armadale Castle (literally)came in. The port opened to world shipping.
The Port of Durban now handles the most goods in Africa. Being the only thing in SA approaching a natural harbour it makes its sister ports in Southern Africa look like barge and dingy affairs. But I do feel that the authorities have built themselves into a corner by the continual filling in of the once vast bay. It is now only approximately one-third its original size at the high water mark. A second port at Isipingo is being spoken about but this depends on the airport moving and all is still on the drawing board, computer screen or wherever.
posted by Malcolm @ 6:23 pm
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