New design concept “could transform shipping in Africa”

Dubbed the Multi-User Offshore Hub, it is designed for two or more users and consists of an offshore, smart terminal arrangement and docking system that can accommodate oceangoing vessels and barges. The company believes that it can significantly increase capacity and reduce port construction and operation costs.

“As existing African ports become more and more congested, increased capacity is an urgent need for both the import of consumer goods and the export of minerals,” said Marco Pluijm, the company’s senior ports specialist, who unveiled the new concept in August at the African Ports Evolution 2013 Forum in Cape Town.

“This solution could provide a reduction of up to 40% in port infrastructure construction costs compared with building a traditional port and up to 50% in operational cost savings as the hub can handle much larger Capesize and Valemax vessels, which result in economies of scale,” he added.