The Cape Town Container Terminal (CTCT) in South Africa is expected to handle twice its current capacity by 2012 when the five-year expansion project at the terminal will be completed.

From its existing 740,000 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) capacity, the new CTCT will have the capacity of 1.4 million TEUs.

Major dredging, deepening and refurbishing works are currently underway on the second of four berths of the CTCT.

Port operator Transnet Port Terminal (TNT) told the local media last week that "there have been some challenges" in keeping uninterrupted operations while construction was ongoing at the terminal.

"However, we are well on our way towards transforming the container terminal into a modern four berth facility that will assist in meeting the demands of the rapid growth of the container sector," TPT Western Province Terminal Executive, Velile Dube said.

TPT said that the first 100 metre of Berth 602 had been handed over to terminal operations. Along with Berth 601, the terminal will have 420 metre of berth space to accommodate one large 305 metre vessel along its long quay.

The $568 million expansion project at CTCT will allow larger, new generation vessels to enter the terminal.

Dube said the CTCT expansion project is one of several TNT projects being undertaken in South Africa to prepare for a growing demand in the container sector.