Crew Change

1. South African seafarers returning to South Africa via any of the seaports will be allowed to disembark ;
2. South African seafarers returning to South Africa via any means other than a ship calling at seaports will be subjected to the provisions of the applicable laws that govern the respective mode of transportation they use; and
3. All returning seafarers will be subjected to a quarantine period of up to 21 days as well as any measures put in place to prevent the spread of the virus

Passenger movement

1. All passenger vessels are prohibited from disembarking any passengers or crew at any of South African seaports.
2. Passenger vessels will be allowed to call at any of South African seaports only for the following purposes:
• Disembarking South African crew;
• Disembarking returning South African citizens and holders of permanentresident permit;
• Replenishing fuel, stores and provisions.
3. The crew shall be allowed to disembark subject to mandatory quarantine laws as may be applicable.

Cargo Ports & Terminals

Bulk & Breakbulk Cargo Terminals (all terminals are working with reduced labour force)

• Operations at all Bulk Terminals (mineral mining commodities) will be scheduled as per demand from mining customers, subject to approval by Department Public of Enterprises ;
• Agri-Bulk products (grains, soya bean meal, fertilizer and woodchips) deemed an essential service will operate on a single berth operation at Port Elizabeth, East London, Richards Bay and Durban Agri terminals ;
• Bulk fruit exports will work on a single berth operation at Cape Town and Durban Fresh Produce Terminal ;
• The following Breakbulk Terminals (MPT’s) are operational with a single berth operation in order to handle essential break-bulk goods and containers –
• Cape Town MPT, Richards Bay MPT and Durban Point MPT ;
• East London MPT, Saldanha MPT, Port Elizabeth MPT and Maydon Wharf MPT are not operational ;
• Automotive/RoRo Terminals in Durban, Port Elizabeth and East London are operational only for local imports (no transhipment) provided the shipping line gives the terminal a plan to evacuate the vehicles out of the port within a reasonable time ;
• Automotive/RoRo exports are not allowed and only vehicles already in the terminal before lockdown can be loaded

Container Cargo Handling (all terminals are working with reduced labour force)

• Durban Container Terminals (DCT) Pier 1 working on 1 berth and Pier 2 working on 3 berths ;
• Ngqura Container Terminal (NCT), Port Elizabeth Container Terminal (PECT) are operational using 1 berth each ;
• Cape Town Container Terminal (CTCT) is operating with 2 berths ;
• Cape Town Multi-Purpose Terminal (MPT) is handling containers at a single berth ;
• Durban Point is operational on a single berth for both containers and essential breakbulk goods ;
• East London will not handle containers during this period ;
• Landside, inclusive of rail, will remain open during this period, albeit on a reduced resource basis ;
• During the lockdown period, DCT Pier 2 will operate a mandatory truck appointment system for all containers ;
• Reefer containers will continue to be prioritised over non-essential exports.

Mandatory requirements

Ship Operations

• Cargo working ships ;
• Passenger vessels allowed only for purposes of disembarking SA crew and returning SA citizens ;
• Ships calling for refuelling and supplies from shipping agents and suppliers like Link Ship Chandlers.

Essential & Non-Essential Cargo

1. Food
• Any food product, including non-alcoholic beverages ;
• Animal food; and
• Chemicals, packaging and ancillary products used in the production of any food product ;
2. Cleaning and Hygiene Products
• Toilet Paper, sanitary pads, sanitary tampons, condoms ;
• Hand sanitiser, disinfectants, soap, alcohol for industrial use, household cleaning products, and personal protective equipment; and
• Chemicals, packaging and ancillary products used in the production of any of the above
3. Medical:
• Medical and Hospital Supplies, equipment and personal protective equipment; and
• Chemicals, packaging and ancillary products used in the production of any of the above
4. Fuel, including coal and gas ;
5. Basic goods, including airtime and electricity ;
6. Transportation of wines and any other fresh produce products at the seaports designated as Port of Entry for export is allowed ;
7. Agricultural Cargo is allowed to be transported to seaports designated as Ports of Entry and exported to the relevant destination

1. All cargo (essential or non-essential) may be evacuated from ports of entry to their intended destination, provided that such cargo:-
• has been sanitised in a manner, at a time, and by such a person as may be prescribed by the relevant Government Department; and
• has been customs cleared and released prior to removal, or is removed (e.g. to City Deep) by an approved container operator on the basis of a manifest submitted to SARS; and
• is delivered to an approved or licensed temporary storage facility (e.g. container terminal, container depot, sea or air transit shed, air de-grouping depot, railway station, etc) located at the intended destination of the cargo ;
2. Once goods have been removed from a port of entry to a temporary storage facility, the physical delivery thereof to any consignee is subject to the restrictions imposed by the Regulations in respect of essential services and goods for the duration of the lockdown ;
3. Essential goods may be delivered from temporary storage facilities to consignees who perform essential services, subject to a valid customs clearance and release and, where applicable, any release authorisation by the relevant Government agency ;
4. Until such time as the lockdown periods ends, or any further amendment to the Regulations is made that allows for the delivery of non-essential goods to consignees, such goods must be stored in temporary storage facilities (e.g. container depots, sea or air transit sheds, air de-grouping depots, railway stations, etc.) ;
5. This means the entities exercising release controls on behalf of SARS (e.g. container operators/carriers, container depots, sea or air transit sheds, air de-grouping depots, railway stations, etc.) may not allow the delivery of non-essential cargo to any consignee until after the lockdown and any deliveries made will be in contravention of regulations and this may attract penalties as outlined in 11G of the regulations.
6. In terms of exports, only essential cargoes as regulated by the Government will still be allowed and TPT will not support the export of non-essential cargo unless exemption is granted through the relevant regulatory body authorised to grant such exemption.
7. But TPThase recognised that empty containers are required as a conveyance of essential goods and as such will allow the evacuation of empty containers as exports through their terminals.