The shipping platform

Location: Maputo, the capital and principal port of Mozambique, is situated in the extreme S of the country on the N bank of the Espirito Santos. General overview: The port, which includes the Matola Bulk Terminal, provides a variety of facilities for the handling of various types of cargoes. Besides serving the S part of the country, it is the most adequate port to serve Swaziland, Zimbabwe, and part of South Africa (Transvaal). It is the premier Mozambican port for handling citrus, grain, steel, asbestos, sugar, coal, ferroalloys, containers, and other bulk cargoes. The loading rates and the daily productivity achieved in many areas is good and therefore it is an attractive port to charterers, owners and the regular shipping line principals. Maputo Corridor System: The Maputo Corridor System is managed by Caminhos de Ferro de Mozambique Sul, the national ports and railways corporation (CFM-S). The Maputo corridor mainly serves traffic from Swaziland, Zimbabwe and the NE Transvaal region of the Republic of South Africa (RSA) and consists of 3 railway lines that link to the port of Maputo. The Ressano Garcia rail line (88km in length) links Maputo with the RSA and carries commodities such as coal, sugar, citrus and steel from both the RSA and Zimbabwe. The Goba line (74km in length) links Maputo with Swaziland and caters to sugar, coal, molasses, and pulp traffic. The 3rd railway line is the 534km Limpopo line which links Maputo with the NRZ system in Zimbabwe. Traffic figures: Approx 6,380,000t of cargo handled annually. Port capacity estimates: The throughput capacity of the port, based on design loading rates of fixed quay installations, 24-hour operation, reasonable rates of discharge and average berth occupancy of 45%, is about 3,600,000t of general cargo, 700,000t of containerized cargo, 4,000,000m³ of petroleum products and 4,000,000t of bulk ore/minerals annually. Mobile Cranes: 1 x 60 mt 2 x 144 mt Forklifts: 2 x 2.5 mt 2 x 4.5 mt 6 x 7 mt 2 x 7.5 mt 2 x 15 mt 1 x 24 mt 5 x 28 mt 2 x 40 mt Some restrictions to larger vessels subject to prior agreement with Port Captain.