274:(CSIR) studied the coastal morphology, collected data on wave heights, directions, tides, currents, sediment transport and studies on river discharge into the lagoon. Three rivers flowed into the lagoon, the Umhlatuzi, the Nsezi and the Manzamyana with the depth of the water in the lagoon being around a metre. The ground below the lagoon water was very soft making proposed dredging easier with the hard rock at a depth making the proposed port a deep water harbour. The existing sea entrance to the lagoon was found to be a natural underwater gorge that was filled with loose material and so made it ideal as a channel for ships to enter the proposed harbour if two breakwaters were built.
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passed an Act that authorised the construction of the harbour. Ten tenders were received and a contract was awarded in May 1972 to a Dutch, Belgian and German consortium worth R108,606,402.50 for a period of five years. The first stage of development was the construction of quay-walls, to eventually berth bulk-carriers of up to 250,000 tons dw, with the completion deadline being April 1976.
277:
Despite no harbour or facilities, in
January 1969, earthworks began for the building of the Alusaf Smelter, the country's first aluminium smelter. 2,100,000 m of soil was brought into the swampy site and 40 km of piles driven into the ground. Concrete pouring began in June 1969 with Aluisse
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In the middle of 1971, boring tests indicated poor ground in certain areas of the proposed harbour that necessitated changes to the location of some infrastructure. By
November 1971 the design and construction tenders were released and closed in March 1972. May 1972 saw the South African parliament
254:
decided after visiting Kosi and
Sodwana Bay's, that Richards Bay would be the best choice. Four reasons were given for the choice. It had a protected bay; the hard material was at a depth allowing the creation of a deep bay; the ability to integrate the existing railway infrastructure and a shorter
371:
started to build up coal export capacity through the
Richards Bay Terminal (RBT), the dry bulk terminal of Richards Bay. The capacity of this facility will be increased to 4.5 million tons a year, which will give together with 4 million ton capacity reserved in the RBCT a total capacity of 9.5
362:
RBCT commenced its Phase V expansion project in
September 2006, which was completed in May 2010 and rose the throughput to the current capacity. Discussion about available export capacity to emerging black coal miners in South Africa is still going on. Therefore,
341:
The 276-hectare (680-acre) site currently boasts a quay 2.2 kilometres long with six berths and four ship loaders. Currently, the terminal has a storage capacity of 8.2 million tons of coal and is serviced by seven stacker reclaimers, two stackers and a reclaimer.
350:
In
September 2006, RBCT set a new world record by loading and exporting 409,809 tons of coal in a 24-hour period at an annualised rate of 149.17 million tons per annum (Mt/a). Potential throughput is to reach 91 million tons a year by the first half of 2009.
210:
Although originally built to handle coal exports, the port has become South Africa's premier bulk port, handling other dry bulk in addition to coal, as well as liquid bulk and breakbulk cargoes. It is also South Africa's most modern port.
305:
through the new port to Japan. The railway infrastructure needed upgrading or new lines built. The current rail line between Ermelo and
Vryheid was upgraded and a new 90 km line from Broodsnyersplaas and the coalfields to
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rail project was announced, which would remove general freight traffic from the
Richards Bay line and allow more coal trains to Richards Bay Coal Terminal. Completion is foreseen for 2019 or 2020.
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318:, just outside Richards Bay, which would 210 km in length, with 10.5 km of tunnelling and 67 bridges or viaducts over several rivers including one over the
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In 2007 annual throughput was 66.12 million tons, despite a capacity of 76 million tons. It was largely due to rail deliveries failing to reach expectations.
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The
Richards Bay Coal Terminal is positioned at one of the world's deep sea ports, and is able to handle large ships and subsequent large volumes.
242:'s. Sodwana's suitability was again investigated in 1922 by Sir George Buchanan. The two former bays were again investigated in 1923, this time by
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the steelworks. It would open on 1 April 1971 with initial processing capacity set at 52,000 tons and 300,000 tons if expanded.
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530:"The Broodsnyersplaas - Richards Bay railway line and harbour: overall objectives, features, planning process and constraints"
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maintains the largest coal exporting terminal in the world, at 209 Million tons compared to
Richards Bay with 91 Million tons.
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began as far back as 1902 when a Cathcart W. Methen, Harbour Engineer, Durban, conducted a survey and advised the
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million tons a year, which should be sufficient to cover the export needs of the black miners in the next years.
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The idea was again revised in 1921 when a proposed harbour was investigated by a group of engineers at
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595:"MAJOR PORT DEVELOPMENTS WITH DUE REGARD TO AT RICHARDS BAY PRESERVING THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT"
896:
246:. The idea for a northern harbour would again be revisited in the 1950s when Prime Minister
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The Transvaal Coal Owners Association proposed to export coal of 9.1 million tons from the
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8:
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871:"Transnet says take-or-pay contracts offer volume 'cover' in weak commodity climate"
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717:"RBCT (Home page of operator): What equipment does RBCT use to handle the coal?"
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As such, it has gained a reputation for operating efficiently and reliably.
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560:"Planning and construction of the new deep water harbour at Richards Bay"
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visited by air reconnaissance. By 1965, the then Minister of Transport
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266:. Aerial photography took place, off-shore soundings were made by the
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government in 1903, that Richards Bay would be a better choice than
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737:"South African Coal Sales to India Jump, Europe Hurt (Update1)"
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was built. The third main upgrade, was a new rail line from
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844:"Railway Gazette: Ceremony launches Swazilink project"
203:(RBCT) which is the largest coal export facility in
823:"Grindrod pushes ahead with Richards Bay expansion"
781:"RBCT has completed its Phase V expansion project"
888:
593:Zwamborn, J.A.; Cawood, C.H. (February 1974).
592:
272:Council for Scientific and Industrial Research
262:In 1967, surveys began of the 3,050 ha
35:The railyard at Richards Bay, 14 August 2007
675:Civil Engineering = Siviele Ingenieurswese
640:Civil Engineering = Siviele Ingenieurswese
602:Civil Engineering = Siviele Ingenieurswese
567:Civil Engineering = Siviele Ingenieurswese
537:Civil Engineering = Siviele Ingenieurswese
494:Civil Engineering = Siviele Ingenieurswese
917:Buildings and structures in KwaZulu-Natal
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294:and transported by rail to Richards Bay.
633:"South Africa's first aluminium smelter"
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802:"Transnet fights for black coal miners"
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270:'s hydrographical department while the
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42:Click on the map for a fullscreen view
759:"Richards Bay Coal falls short again"
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255:rail distance to the industrialised
219:The idea for a new harbour north of
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902:Ports and harbours of South Africa
487:"Richards Bay harbour development"
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558:Campbell, N. P. (November 1976).
528:Du Toit, H.J.L (November 1976).
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683:| – via Sabinet
648:| – via Sabinet
610:| – via Sabinet
575:| – via Sabinet
545:| – via Sabinet
502:| – via Sabinet
697:"RBCT (Home page of operator)"
426:"UNLOCODE (ZA) - SOUTH AFRICA"
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1:
849:Railway Gazette International
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681:(9): 319–21. September 1972.
671:"The days work a Commentary"
500:(12): 379–80. December 1972.
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912:Transport in KwaZulu-Natal
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201:Richards Bay Coal Terminal
282:for the construction and
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322:of a 39.6 m span.
646:(8): 287. August 1971.
278:the project managers,
460:. Shipping Guides Ltd
375:In January 2012, the
400:The Chinese port of
185:Port of Richards Bay
24:Port of Richards Bay
18:Port in South Africa
199:, and contains the
177:91 million annually
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290:was imported from
268:South African Navy
430:service.unece.org
303:Eastern Transvaal
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98:28.818°S 32.052°E
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897:Richards Bay
874:. Retrieved
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853:. Retrieved
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827:. Retrieved
825:. 2015-08-21
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806:. Retrieved
804:. 2010-05-03
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783:. 2010-05-03
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252:Ben Schoeman
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225:Natal Colony
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197:South Africa
193:Indian Ocean
189:Richards Bay
184:
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170:Annual cargo
143:276 hectares
69:Richards Bay
59:South Africa
15:
739:. Bloomberg
608:(2): 79–86.
402:Qinhuangdao
284:Dorman Long
240:Sodwana Bay
145:(680 acres)
101: /
76:Coordinates
891:Categories
876:2015-10-14
855:22 January
829:2015-10-14
808:2014-02-11
787:2015-10-14
761:. MiningMX
722:2015-10-14
702:2015-10-14
383:References
259:interior.
248:D.F. Malan
164:Statistics
89:32°03′07″E
86:28°49′05″S
412:Citations
377:Swazilink
358:Expansion
316:Empangeni
292:Australia
257:Transvaal
244:Jan Smuts
195:coast of
140:Land area
115:UN/LOCODE
765:June 30,
743:June 30,
435:28 April
369:Grindrod
365:Transnet
346:Capacity
331:Location
229:St Lucia
129:Type of
65:Location
48:Location
464:4 March
312:Vryheid
288:Alumina
280:Roberts
215:History
173:tonnage
131:harbour
124:Details
54:Country
308:Ermelo
264:lagoon
221:Durban
205:Africa
155:berths
636:(PDF)
598:(PDF)
563:(PDF)
533:(PDF)
490:(PDF)
388:Notes
119:ZARCB
857:2012
767:2008
745:2008
466:2019
437:2020
367:and
236:Kosi
183:The
314:to
238:or
153:of
151:No.
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846:.
679:14
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