The docking of the MSC Nicola Mastro at the Port of Ngqura on Thursday has been hailed as a significant milestone and a resounding vote of confidence in the Eastern Cape port’s capacity to operate as a global transshipment hub.
For the first time in its operational history, the Ngqura Container Terminal hosted the largest vessel ever to dock on SA shores for port operations, marking a significant milestone for the Eastern Cape’s deepwater transshipment ambitions.
Port officials and industry stakeholders described the ship’s arrival as a pivotal moment for the region’s maritime logistics sector, signalling that Ngqura was ready to compete with the world’s top container ports.
The vessel comes in at just under 400m in length, with its beam 61m.
The ship was brought into the port by senior pilot Olwethu Mtsewu-Sisilana, a berthing that lasted more than two hours, beginning three nautical miles from the harbour.
The vessel was safely moored at 10.17am.
Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) harbour master Captain Vuyani Ntsimango said it was a milestone for the Port of Ngqura and Transnet.
“In terms of the draught [the vertical distance between the waterline and the bottom of the hull] of the ship, it is about 16.1m, which is the maximum we can take at the port,” he said.
The largest ship that docked before at the port had a length of 366m.
When the call came in late June about the vessel’s anchoring as it made its way from Singapore, Ntsimango said it was all hands on deck, with maximum resources swiftly deployed.
“We had pre-planning with MSC and the Transnet National Ports Authority to discuss planning conditions.
“Among the conditions in terms of safety were that it came in daylight and at high tide.
“At high tide we get about 1.5m of water above normal levels. We wanted to make sure that the draught was maintained about 0.5m at all times,” he said.
As part of the resource deployment, Ntsimango was brought in from his post at the Port of Port Elizabeth, along with two additional tugboats — bringing the total to four used for the berthing operation.
After the damning 2023 Global Container Port Performance Index released in 2024 which ranked South African ports at the bottom due to inefficiencies, Ntsimango said measures had been implemented at both Gqeberha ports and others, including the consolidation and redeployment of resources.
He said that complex system was evident on Thursday.
“We procured shore tensioners which are able to hold the vessel in one position during cargo operations.
“When there is bad weather, there is a surge that comes in at the port, which makes vessels move and creates stoppages.
“Four units will be deployed on this vessel which I believe will be the first time as it is usually two.”
Despite the slightly choppy waters before boarding, Mtsewu-Sisilana — accompanied by her co-pilot Ryan Jacobs and Ngqura deputy harbour master Yoliswa Tibane — said she felt little trepidation in taking the helm.
It was only confirmed on Monday the ship would dock on Thursday during her shift.
“She chose me,” she said.
“We were anticipating the vessel was going to take long to stop, so I got the two tugs on the bow to give her breaks coming inside the channel, the other was fast on the stern while other was also helping to bring the stern around.
“All the planning and executing of the job went very well. It was teamwork and I am very proud.”
Mtsewu-Sisilana, 36, is from Qanda village in the Eastern Cape. She went to Buchule Technical High School in East London.
After studying maritime studies at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, funded by a Transnet bursary, she joined Ngqura in 2011 as a trainee tug smarter.
In 2016, she qualified as a pilot of the port and in 2022 attained her open licence.
The ship is expected to set sail on Saturday morning after 1,500 containers have been offloaded and 700 brought on board.
Maritime Business Chamber (MBC) chair Unathi Sonti said his organisation welcomed the arrival of the vessel.
“It is a significant milestone for Nelson Mandela Bay and the Eastern Cape,” he said.
“This is not only a historic event in scale — it is also symbolic of the region’s growing strategic importance in terms of global trade routes and SA’s maritime economy.
“This may be an opportunity to revive in fullness the bunkering service in Algoa Bay, and to capitalise on our tourism sector offerings.”
He said the docking of the Nicola Mastro was “a powerful endorsement of the Port of Ngqura’s capabilities and potential as a world-class transshipment hub”.
“It also validates the ongoing infrastructure investments and policy shifts aimed at positioning the port as the logistics heartbeat of the Southern African region.
“This also compels Transnet to prioritise investments in SA’s central region ports.
“This is particularly important for the Eastern Cape, a province that has long been underutilised in terms of maritime economic development.”
Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber chief executive Denise van Huyssteen said it was an encouraging signal that the Port of Ngqura had attracted a container ship of such magnitude.
“It demonstrates Ngqura’s strengths and untapped potential as a deepwater port,” she said.
“This also highlights the critical role of the port in enabling the Bay to potentially become a key transshipment hub on the African continent.
“And this in turn links to our vision for the metro — or the Bay of Opportunity, as we are calling it — to become the most diverse manufacturing and export hub on the African continent.”
Van Huyssteen said Nelson Mandela Bay had a huge advantage as a two port city, with one being a deepwater port.
“Multi-stakeholder efforts to unlock this potential need to accelerate to retain and attract investment and employment opportunities.”
Bay economic development political head Bassie Kamana hailed the arrival of the vessel as a positive landmark.
“We are elated. It is a most welcome indicator for the prosperity of the citizens of the metro,” Kamana said.
“It vindicates our assertion that we do have the potential to be a big player in the country’s economy.
“We appreciate the confidence bestowed upon the metro to dispel the myths that are intended to discourage investment.”
He said the municipality’s economic development, tourism and agriculture directorate and the metro as a whole were committed to stable governance for the good of all citizens.
“We are making a strong bid to be the investment destination of choice.
“After the successful hosting of the G20 summit, the arrival of this vessel can only bring a greater economic injection to change the lot of the African working class and poor of our metro.”
The Herald
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