A fresh masterplan for the Port of Maputo

The Maputo Port Development Company (MPDC) is redeveloping the Port of Maputo, and enlisted Royal HaskoningDHV to update its decade-old masterplan to account for new developments in transport logistics.

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Project facts

Client

Sociedade de Desenvolvimento do Porto de Maputo

Location

Maputo and Matola, Mozambique

Period

2019-2020

Challenge

Updating a decade-old port masterplan to reflect the operator’s digital and sustainability goals.

Solution

A roadmap which offers advice that will help guide decision making for at least 20 years

Updating a decade-old masterplan for smart, green operations

With a masterplan last updated in 2009, MPDC was looking for new guidance that was tailored to its development goals for the Port of Maputo, in light of changes to transport corridors and logistics infrastructure.

The port is about to make its transition from manual operations to smart port solutions, so MPDC wanted to target sustainability as well as expansion opportunities. Key challenges included:

• Promoting a more diverse cargo and commodities mix
• Developing rail hinterland connections in Mozambique and South Africa
• Prioritising dry port development as traffic shifts from road to rail
• Improving zoning within the port to separate clean and dirty cargo

A wide-ranging masterplan to support expansion and efficiency

Working closely with the port users and external stakeholders, we produced an updated masterplan that provides a set of expansion strategies based on sustainable port zoning, hinterland connectivity, and material handling principles.

The plan includes provisions for assisting the Port of Maputo’s transition to digital solutions while promoting a greener approach to operation. For example, we included specific advice to cut down dust emissions from dry bulk operations, and reduce the impact of heavy trucks on road safety, noise, and air quality in the area.

We also identified potential smart port initiatives such as:

• Vessel traffic service
• Train tracking
• Truck appointment system
• Cargo terminal management
• Equipment safe segregation

A roadmap for continued revitalisation

Our analysis of the port’s operations confirmed that MPDC’s investments in infrastructure over the past 10 years well provide the foundation for its continued revitalisation.

MPDC and the port’s external stakeholders now have a defined vision and roadmap which will support their decisions through to 2043. The new masterplan will help them further develop the Port of Maputo as a smart, efficient, and profitable port that operates in harmony with the city and environment.

The masterplan includes short, medium, and long-term actions that correspond to MPDC’s goals for the port and enable its leaders to make a positive impact on the socioeconomic growth of Southern Mozambique.