SA's port backlog an opportunity for other African ports

JOHANNESBURG - The continued backlogs and congestion at South African ports have handed opportunities to other African ports.

They have become more popular as refuelling stops for vessels avoiding the Suez Canal and the  Red Sea.

READ: SA Ports | Impact of shipping disruptions in the Red Sea

Namibia's port of Walvis Bay, and Port Louis in Mauritius are currently the preferred options for filling up, according to shipping giant Maersk.

Congestion around the Cape of Good Hope is prompting rerouting of vessels. But this comes at a huge cost as the detour can add around 8 kilometres to voyages.

The Maritime Business Chamber says South Africa's logistics crisis has become a lost opportunity for job creation and revenue.