South Africa Modernizes Its Largest Dry Dock and Expands Ship Repair Capacity

Built in 1924, the Prince Edward Graving Dock remains one of the largest dry docks in Africa. The 228-meter-long and 32.2-meter-wide tanker will undergo mandatory surveys by classification society DNV, along with maintenance and repair work.

According to Transnet, recent upgrades to the dock, including the installation of seven new mooring winches, have improved operational efficiency while preserving its ability to accommodate large commercial vessels.

The dock has a long history of servicing major ships. In the late 1980s, it carried out emergency repairs on one of Safmarine's largest container ships. In 2019, its inner caisson gate was reconstructed, enabling the facility to accommodate two smaller vessels simultaneously.

Transnet invested approximately US$12 million in the dock's modernization. The company also plans to build a new dry dock and a ship lift, significantly expanding South Africa's ship repair capacity.

At the same time, the operator continues to improve the performance of the Port of Durban. Average vessel turnaround time has fallen from 103 hours two years ago to 74 hours, and further to 58 hours in 2026. Average anchorage waiting time has also been reduced from 127 hours to 79 hours. Throughput of container, liquid bulk, dry bulk, and general cargo has likewise increased.

The expansion of South Africa's ship repair infrastructure has become particularly important as many vessels continue to reroute around Africa to avoid the Red Sea.