After a disappointing response the first time round, Transnet National Ports Authority published a request for proposals (RFP) in the recent Sunday newspapers, citing Cape Town Port and the desire to create a cruise terminal at E Shed.
This new tender for the Cape Town cruise terminal proposal ends on 5 February 2015. The successful operator will have an operating licence for 20 years. A similar RFP which was issued earlier for the Port of Durban is currently undergoing assessment.
The reason why TNPA rejected proposals the first time round for Cape Town is not clear. It is believed that one of those who submitted a RFP included the V&A Waterfront company with a proposal of connecting the E-berth terminal with the V&A Waterfront by way of an overhead pedestrian walkway or bridge.
The rejection by TNPA of the previous set of proposals surprised many observers and in the absence of reasons for this from Transnet it will be of interest to see how many new proposals will now be received. The Waterfront, because of its close proximity and the resultant benefits it will receive from such an arrangement, are sure to once again make their bid.
Given the fact that the South African cruise season is relatively short presents greater challenges to anyone wanting to develop such a terminal. Take away the number of cruise ship calls by MSC Cruises, which caters largely for South African passengers, then the number of visiting ships each year is quite low, averaging less than 20. The real benefit of a terminal will come from these ship calls, rather than those provided by MSC Cruises and its multiple calls for mainly local passengers.
It’s thought that the delay with announcing details of the Durban RFP, which Tau Morwe said in September was expected imminently, may well be tied up with concerns expressed by the eThekwini Municipality (Durban) that a new terminal at Durban’s A/B Berth area close to the Point Waterfront, could turn out to be a white elephant.

Transnet National Ports Authority is reported to be also preparing tender documents for ship repair facilities, including a floating dock at Richards Bay and oil rig repair facilities at Saldanha Bay.
In addition, TNPA is also considering new extensions at Island View in Durban and a new liquid bulk facility at East London.