Durban - Transnet is considering the feasibility study for a new R2-billion car terminal at the Durban port to accommodate strong growth in the vehicle market.
Hector Danisa, SA Port Operations (Sapo) business unit executive for the Durban car terminal, said yesterday: "The last part of the feasibility study is being presented to Transnet this week. If it is approved, the first phase could be completed by the end of May 2008."
The second phase would be completed by the end of 2009.
Danisa, who previously ran the multipurpose terminal at the Cape Town port and took over running the Durban car terminal in December, was speaking after the arrival of the MV Morning Calm, the largest car carrier to dock in a South African port.
Bev Mason, who previously ran the car terminal, is now running Durban port's multi-purpose terminal.
The vessel, owned by Eukor, arrived on Tuesday night with 5 036 vehicles from Korea and Malaysia, including Hyundai, Proton and Kia models.
Previously, the largest vessel to dock in Durban carried 3 600 cars.
The existing car terminal, which has 10 000 bays, is bursting at the seams despite expansion in 2004.
To cater for demand in the short term, the car terminal is using space at the nearby multipurpose terminal.
Last year, the number of vehicles handled by the terminal rose 41 percent to 389 681 units, including cars, trucks and earthmoving equipment destined for neighbouring countries.
Five years ago, the terminal handled about 100 000 units.
Danisa said growth this year at the terminal was forecast to rise by 18 percent.
South Africa also has car terminals at Port Elizabeth and East London ports, which handle about 95 000 vehicles a year.
The growth of motor manufacturers, such as BMW and Toyota, assembling in South Africa for export has increased the need for a bigger car terminal at the Durban port.
But local consumer demand for vehicles, especially among middle-income earners, is also why bigger car handling facilities are needed.
The National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of SA reported this month that total car sales for last year rose 14.4 percent to 646 581 units.
Kresen Naicker, Sapo's commercial manager at the Durban car terminal, said that of the vehicles handled at the terminal last year, about 70 percent were imports.
The new car terminal is planned for Salisbury Island, on the southern side of the port near the container terminal.
Danisa said the new car terminal site had scope for further expansion in the long term and could also be used for container handling.
The car terminal may also be used as a park and ride facility during the 2010 soccer World Cup tournament.