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The Durban Gateway Terminal, operated by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. starting this year, temporarily waives all terminal charges and rolled out interim measures to address operational efficiencies at the main container terminal in South Africa
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Move was welcomed by freight and logistics companies represented South African Freight & Logistics Association and the Road Freight Association
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The two groups have also jointly called for “an immediate, unified recovery plan to restore predictable cargo flow through Durban Gateway Terminal”
The Durban Gateway Terminal (DGT), operated by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) starting this year, has waived all terminal charges and rolled out interim measures to address operational efficiencies at the main container terminal in South Africa – a move welcomed by freight and logistics companies.
The South African Freight & Logistics Association (SAFLA) and the Road Freight Association (RFA) have also jointly called for “an immediate, unified recovery plan to restore predictable cargo flow through Durban Gateway Terminal after sustained disruption across vessel, yard, system and landside operations.”
In a post on their respective LinkedIn pages, SAFLA and RFA cited data that it described as “stark”.
In July, vessels at DGT spent an average of about 80 hours at anchorage and 106 at berth. After the mid-August NAVIS N4 cutover, weekly throughput fell 26% and reported terminal waits reached eight to 12 days.
Independent monitoring data also showed average Durban port call time rising from less than five days in late June to more than 12 by late August, and monthly berth calls down from 34 to 19 since May.
On the land side, time spent by transporters in the port precinct per visit rose by more than half in three months, while Bayhead Road transit times climbed steadily since January.
“The whole gateway is slowing,” the two industry groups said.
In a more recent statement cited by South African media, SAFLA and RFA said they are “delighted” at the waiving of storage fees at DGT amid the congestion problems.
“This will meaningfully ease the burden on freight forwarders and their clients, and we welcome this gesture of good faith from DGT and ICTSI,” SAFLA said, adding that it is ready, along with RFA, to take part in a joint recovery task team alongside DGT, Transnet SOC Ltd., government and other industry bodies.
ICTSI and Transnet officially signed on December 10, 2025 a 25-year partnership agreement for the operation and development of the Durban Container Terminal Pier 2 at the Port of Durban, which took effect January 1, 2026.
READ: ICTSI, Transnet formally start Durban terminal management transition
Under the agreement, state-owned Transnet holds a majority share in a new special purpose vehicle, Newco, while ICTSI will be responsible for operation of the terminal.
