THE world’s largest car and truck carrier, the Höegh Aurora, was successfully berthed on her first call at the Port of Durban with assistance from the port’s state-of-the-art tugs, recently added to Transnet National Ports Authority’s (TNPA) marine fleet.
The vessel can carry up to 9,100 cars and is approximately 200 m long, 38 m wide, and 11 m deep. It is a next-generation vessel known for its advanced green energy solutions, signifies a new era in sustainable shipping. The vessel is powered by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), equipped with solar panels, and designed for future conversion to methanol or ammonia fuel once the engines are ready. Its timely and safe berthing at the Port of Durban reflects Transnet’s commitment to improving service delivery and responding to industry demands.
“The on-time berthing of the Höegh Aurora demonstrates our responsiveness to ensuring volumes are efficiently handled at our port. This operational milestone also highlights the impact of our new tug fleet. These tugs represent a significant enhancement to our marine services, enabling us to meet the demands of global shipping with efficiency, reliability and sustainability,” said Nkumbuzi Ben-Mazwi, TNPA port manager at the Port of Durban.
TNPA says as part of the ongoing turnaround plan, the Port of Durban continues to collaborate with terminal operators and customers to enable volume recovery, operational efficiency, and ensure fit for purpose infrastructure. The seamless berthing of the Höegh Aurora demonstrates Durban’s capacity to handle the world’s largest and most advanced vessels, reaffirming its status as a premier gateway for maritime trade.
TNPA is responsible for the safe, effective, and efficient economic functioning of the national port system, which it manages in a landlord capacity. It provides port infrastructure and marine services at the eight commercial seaports in South Africa – Richards Bay, Durban, Saldanha, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, East London, Mossel Bay and Ngqura.
