100,000 tonnes

The port of Maputo on Tuesday handled the first ship weighing over 100,000 tonnes, thanks to the dredging of the access channel in 2016/2017.According to a press release by the Maputo Port Development Company (MPDC), the ship, the “MV Magali”, left the port on Tuesday night, laden with 100,674 tonnes of chrome destined for China.The “Magali” is a Capesize bulk carrier, flying the Panamanian flag. Its total capacity is 104,229 tonnes.Such a large ship could only use Maputo because the dredging concluded last year deepened the access channel from 11 to 14.2 metres. Without this dredging the port could not have handled Capesize ships.The MPDC release notes that, even before the dredging was completed, in late 2016 the port received the 90,000 tonne bulk carrier “Mineral Belgium”, at that time the largest ship ever to use the port. The “Magali” sets a new record for the port.MPDC adds that the rehabilitation of quays 6, 7, 8 and 9 is due to begin this quarter. Together, they amount to 1,058 metres of berth. At these berths, the depth will be increased to 15 metres, allowing Maputo to receive and load very large vessels on a regular basis. The rehabilitation of quay 9 is scheduled for February 2019, and work on the other three should be completed by December 2019.MPDC is a consortium between Mozambique’s publicly-owned ports and rail company, CFM, which holds 49 per cent of the shares, and Portus Indico, with 51 per cent. The latter is a partnership between DP World of Dubai (with 48.5 per cent), Grindrod of South Africa (also 48.5 per cent) and the Mozambican private company, Mocambique Gestores (three per cent).MPDC was granted the lease on Maputo port in April 2003 for 15 years, and in 2010 the lease was extended for a further 15 years, with the option of an additional ten years after 2033.