{{Use South African English|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox port | name = Port of Richards Bay | image =SAR Class 35-200 35-204.JPG | image_size =220px | image_caption =The railyard at Richards Bay, 14 August 2007 | pushpin_map = South Africa | country = [[South Africa]] | location =[[Richards Bay]] | coordinates ={{coord|-28.818|32.052|display=inline,title}} | locode = ZARCB<ref name="Locode-1">{{cite web |title=UNLOCODE (ZA) - SOUTH AFRICA |url=https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/za.htm |website=service.unece.org |access-date=28 April 2020}}</ref> | opened = | operated = | owner = | type = Dry bulk port | sizewater = | sizeland = {{convert|276|ha|disp=br()}} | size = | berths = 6 | wharfs = | piers = | employees = | leadershiptitle = | leader = | blankdetailstitle1 = | blankdetails1 = | blankdetailstitle2 = | blankdetails2 = | blankdetailstitle3 = | blankdetails3 = | arrivals = | cargotonnage = 91 million annually | containervolume = | cargovalue = | passengertraffic = | revenue = | profit = | blankstatstitle1 = | blankstats1 = | blankstatstitle2 = | blankstats2 = | blankstatstitle3 = | blankstats3 = | website = }}

The '''Port of Richards Bay''' is located in [[Richards Bay]] harbour on the [[Indian Ocean]] coast of [[South Africa]], and contains the '''Richards Bay Coal Terminal''' (RBCT) which is the largest coal export facility in [[Africa]].{{efn|The Chinese port of [[Qinhuangdao]] maintains the largest coal exporting terminal in the world, at 209 Million tons compared to Richards Bay with 91 Million tons.{{citation needed|date=March 2020}}}}

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.<ref name="fap-rb"/> It is also South Africa's most modern port.<ref name="fap-rb">{{cite web |title=Richards Bay |url=https://www.findaport.com/port-of-richards-bay |website=findaport.com |publisher=Shipping Guides Ltd |access-date=4 March 2019}}</ref>

==History== The idea for a new harbour north of [[Durban]] began as far back as 1902 when a Cathcart W. Methen, Harbour Engineer, Durban, conducted a survey and advised the [[Natal Colony]] government in 1903, that Richards Bay would be a better choice than [[St Lucia, KwaZulu-Natal|St Lucia]].<ref name="Civil01">{{cite journal|title=Richards Bay harbour development |journal=Civil Engineering = Siviele Ingenieurswese|date=December 1972|volume=14|issue=12|pages=379–80|url=https://journals.co.za/docserver/fulltext/civeng/14/12/18414.pdf?expires=1551992543&id=id&accname=guest&checksum=943DEA1DED0103A5E151A284A16AAA0F}}|{{subscription required|via=Sabinet}}</ref>{{rp|396}}

The idea was again revised in 1921 when a proposed harbour was investigated by a group of engineers at [[Kosi Bay|Kosi]] or [[Sodwana Bay]]'s.<ref name="Civil04">{{cite journal|last1=Du Toit|first1=H.J.L|title=The Broodsnyersplaas - Richards Bay railway line and harbour: overall objectives, features, planning process and constraints |journal=Civil Engineering = Siviele Ingenieurswese|date=November 1976|volume=18|issue=11|pages=245–48|url=https://journals.co.za/docserver/fulltext/civeng/18/11/21621.pdf?expires=1552000604&id=id&accname=guest&checksum=3D52B7CFB5FC91B04D5BEFDCD2E90023}}|{{subscription required|via=Sabinet}}</ref>{{rp|246}} Sodwana's suitability was again investigated in 1922 by Sir George Buchanan.<ref name=Civil04/>{{rp|246}} The two former bays were again investigated in 1923, this time by [[Jan Smuts]].<ref name=Civil04/>{{rp|246}} The idea for a northern harbour would again be revisited in the 1950s when Prime Minister [[D.F. Malan]] visited by air reconnaissance.<ref name=Civil04/>{{rp|246}} By 1965, the then Minister of Transport [[Ben Schoeman]] decided after visiting Kosi and Sodwana Bay's, that Richards Bay would be the best choice.<ref name=Civil04/>{{rp|246}} 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 rail distance to the industrialised [[Transvaal (province)|Transvaal]] interior.<ref name=Civil04/>{{rp|246}}

In 1967, surveys began of the 3,050&nbsp;ha [[lagoon]]. Aerial photography took place, off-shore soundings were made by the [[South African Navy]]'s hydrographical department while the [[Council for Scientific and Industrial Research]] (CSIR) studied the coastal morphology, collected data on wave heights, directions, tides, currents, sediment transport and studies on river discharge into the lagoon.<ref name="Civil05">{{Cite journal|last=Campbell|first=N. P.|title=Planning and construction of the new deep water harbour at Richards Bay|journal=Civil Engineering = Siviele Ingenieurswese|date=November 1976|volume=18|issue=11|pages=257–65|url=https://journals.co.za/docserver/fulltext/civeng/18/11/21623.pdf?expires=1552000908&id=id&accname=guest&checksum=95E066FB4E4814D90A03DD876B5EE048}}|{{subscription required|via=Sabinet}}</ref>{{rp|257}} 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.<ref name="Civil06">{{Cite journal|last1=Zwamborn|first1=J.A.|last2=Cawood|first2=C.H.|title=MAJOR PORT DEVELOPMENTS WITH DUE REGARD TO AT RICHARDS BAY PRESERVING THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT|journal=Civil Engineering = Siviele Ingenieurswese|date=February 1974|volume=16|issue=2|pages=79–86|url=https://journals.co.za/docserver/fulltext/civeng/16/2/14696.pdf?expires=1551998270&id=id&accname=guest&checksum=46384EDD800B0047857184066CB34B03}}|{{subscription required|via=Sabinet}}</ref>{{rp|80}} 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.<ref name=Civil06/>{{rp|80}} 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.<ref name=Civil06/>{{rp|81}}

Despite no harbour or facilities, in January 1969, earthworks began for the building of the Alusaf Smelter, the country's first aluminium smelter.<ref name="Civil02">{{cite journal|title=South Africa's first aluminium smelter |journal=Civil Engineering = Siviele Ingenieurswese|date=August 1971|volume=13|issue=8|pages=287|url=https://journals.co.za/docserver/fulltext/civeng/13/8/19119.pdf?expires=1551988663&id=id&accname=guest&checksum=C2F4E99BCAA3FDA9277B89F455DDB334}}|{{subscription required|via=Sabinet}}</ref>{{rp|287}} 2,100,000&nbsp;m<sup>3</sup> of soil was brought into the swampy site and 40&nbsp;km of piles driven into the ground.<ref name=Civil02/>{{rp|287}} Concrete pouring began in June 1969 with Aluisse the project managers, [[Murray & Roberts|Roberts]] for the construction and [[Dorman Long]] the steelworks.<ref name=Civil02/>{{rp|287}} It would open on 1 April 1971 with initial processing capacity set at 52,000&nbsp;tons and 300,000&nbsp;tons if expanded.<ref name=Civil02/>{{rp|287}} [[Alumina]] was imported from [[Australia]] and transported by rail to Richards Bay.<ref name=Civil02/>{{rp|287}}

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.<ref name=Civil01/>{{rp|396}} By November 1971 the design and construction tenders were released and closed in March 1972.<ref name=Civil01/>{{rp|396}} May 1972 saw the South African parliament passed an Act that authorised the construction of the harbour.<ref name=Civil04/>{{rp|246}} 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.<ref name=Civil01/>{{rp|396}} The first stage of development was the construction of quay-walls, to eventually berth bulk-carriers of up to 250,000&nbsp;tons dw, with the completion deadline being April 1976.<ref name="Civil03">{{cite journal|title=The days work a Commentary |journal=Civil Engineering = Siviele Ingenieurswese|date=September 1972|volume=14|issue=9|pages=319–21|url=https://journals.co.za/content/civeng/14/9/AJA10212019_14720?fromSearch=true}}|{{subscription required|via=Sabinet}}</ref>{{rp|319}}

The Transvaal Coal Owners Association proposed to export coal of 9.1 million tons from the [[Mpumalanga|Eastern Transvaal]] through the new port to Japan.<ref name=Civil03/>{{rp|320}} The railway infrastructure needed upgrading or new lines built.<ref name=Civil03/>{{rp|320}} The current rail line between Ermelo and Vryheid was upgraded and a new 90&nbsp;km line from Broodsnyersplaas and the coalfields to [[Ermelo, Mpumalanga|Ermelo]] was built.<ref name=Civil03/>{{rp|320}} The third main upgrade, was a new rail line from [[Vryheid]] to [[Empangeni]], just outside Richards Bay, which would 210&nbsp;km in length, with 10.5&nbsp;km of tunnelling and 67 bridges or viaducts over several rivers including one over the [[Umfolozi River]] of a 39.6&nbsp;m span.<ref name=Civil03/>{{rp|320}}

==Coal terminal== ===Location=== 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.

As such, it has gained a reputation for operating efficiently and reliably.

The {{convert|276|hectare|acre|adj=on}} 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rbct.co.za/ |title=RBCT (Home page of operator) |access-date=2015-10-14 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rbct.co.za/faq-6/ |title=RBCT (Home page of operator): What equipment does RBCT use to handle the coal? |access-date=2015-10-14 }}</ref>

===Capacity===

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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=aK0Ek71Aq4po&refer=home|title=South African Coal Sales to India Jump, Europe Hurt (Update1)|publisher=Bloomberg|access-date=June 30, 2008}}</ref>

In 2007 annual throughput was 66.12 million tons{{Vague|which tons?|date=February 2009}}, despite a capacity of 76 million tons. It was largely due to rail deliveries failing to reach expectations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.miningmx.com/energy/765780.htm|title=Richards Bay Coal falls short again|publisher=MiningMX|access-date=June 30, 2008}}</ref>

== Expansion ==

RBCT commenced its Phase V expansion project in September 2006, which was completed in May 2010 and rose the throughput to the current capacity.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://steelguru.com/steel/rbct-has-completed-its-phase-v-expansion-project/143976 |title=RBCT has completed its Phase V expansion project |date=2010-05-03 |access-date=2015-10-14 }}</ref> Discussion about available export capacity to emerging black coal miners in South Africa is still going on.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iol.co.za/business/companies/transnet-fights-for-black-coal-miners-1.1645157#.Vh213eztmko |title=Transnet fights for black coal miners |date=2010-05-03 |access-date=2014-02-11 }}</ref> Therefore, [[Transnet]] and [[Grindrod Locomotives|Grindrod]] 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 million tons a year, which should be sufficient to cover the export needs of the black miners in the next years.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.miningmx.com/page/news/energy/1653720-Grindrod-pushes-ahead-with-Richards-Bay-expansion#.Vh23i-ztmko |title=Grindrod pushes ahead with Richards Bay expansion |date=2015-08-21 |access-date=2015-10-14 }}</ref>

In January 2012, the [[Swazilink]] 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/ceremony-launches-swazilink-project.html|access-date=22 January 2012|title=Railway Gazette: Ceremony launches Swazilink project|work=[[Railway Gazette International]]}}</ref> Completion is foreseen for 2019 or 2020.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.miningweekly.com/article/transnet-says-take-or-pay-contracts-offer-volume-cover-in-weak-commodity-climate-2015-07-14|title=Transnet says take-or-pay contracts offer volume 'cover' in weak commodity climate|access-date=2015-10-14 }}</ref>

==References== '''Notes''' {{Notelist}} '''Citations''' {{Reflist}}

[[Category:Richards Bay]] [[Category:Ports and harbours of South Africa|Richards Bay]] [[Category:Coal terminals]] [[Category:Transport in KwaZulu-Natal]] [[Category:Buildings and structures in KwaZulu-Natal]]