The East London Multi-Purpose Terminal achieved a historic milestone this week as transhipment vessels Hoegh Jeddah and Hoegh London arrived. These mark the terminal’s first transhipments in 13 years. Each vessel handled a significant volume of 1,183 fully built unit (FBU) transhipment vehicles, comprising BMW and Nissan models. In addition, the vessels processed 39 FBU pure exports, bringing the combined total to 2,405 FBUs.
The recent East London N-Berth upgrade, completed in April 2025 at a cost of R60 million, involved deepening and reinforcing the berth to a uniform depth of 10.5 metres. The upgrade now allows for the simultaneous docking of two new-generation pure car carriers, each over 200 metres long. Both N berths were used to dock the vessels and facilitate direct transfers between them.
“This achievement reflects our unwavering commitment to regional economic growth and to positioning East London as a pivotal player in the maritime and automotive logistics landscape,” says Ms. Wandisa Vazi, Managing Executive at the Eastern Cape. “It sets the stage for new volumes, diversified lines of business, and excellence in service delivery.”
With this milestone, the East London Multi-Purpose Terminal is boldly charting a new course—embracing innovation and efficiency in pursuit of sustained relevance and growth in the highly competitive transhipment and automotive markets.
Hoegh Jeddah and Hoegh London departed as scheduled, ferrying South African-made Toyota models to overseas markets.
