Durban Harbour is the busiest port in South Africa and the 3rd busiest container port in the Southern Hemisphere

A decision on a new cruise ship terminal for Durban harbour is expected to be made by September this year and, if approved, the new terminal could be built and commissioned by 2015 according to Transnet’s Durban port manager Ricky Bhikraj.

He said a feasibility study is underway for the new terminal which would be built at A and B berths in the harbour. It would occupy about 32 000 sqm and with a 9 000 sqm terminal and about 700 metre of space on the quay.

He says Transnet is looking at various funding options that might include a private-public partnership. It is part of Durban’s regeneration efforts.

According to the cruise industry in South Africa there is room for regularly cruises for two large passenger liners and about 5 000 passengers.

At the same time, Cape Town is investigating the options of opening a passenger terminal in the City’s harbour and according to a report by the City of Cape Town, the lack of adequate terminal facilities is restricting industry growth.

The report estimates that one cruiser liner carrying 2 000 passengers and with a crew of 600 would result in expenditure within the city of R2 286 400 a day. The report says that a seven-day cruise from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth, Durban and Richards Bay would result in expenditure of R9,14-million.

It says that 25 of these cruises a year would generate additional revenue of R228,5-million.

Cape Town harbour is set agaist the backdrop of Table Mountain and is positioned along one of the world's busiest trade routes.

The Cape Chamber of Commerce is lobbying for a terminal that is big enough to accommodate two cruise liners at the Duncan Dock as part of the development of Cape Town’s International Convention Centre.

Chamber president Michael Bagraim says that the Chamber will hold talks with the National Port Authority and that he was “confident of their support”. He says that three berths for cruise ships would result in thousands of tourists coming to Cape Town and spending their money within the city.

At this stage the plan is to build two berths at Duncan Dock and a smaller third berth at the V&A Waterfront.

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