A team of port and coastal researchers at the CSIR intends to create a lasting impact at this year’s African Harbour Masters’ Conference. Taking place in Cape Town from 2 to 4 April 2025, the CSIR will showcase its technologies, innovative capabilities and approaches to port development and operations, including eco-friendly systems that sustainably address the diverse needs of coastal communities.

“The event, hosted by Transnet National Ports Authority, focuses on sustainable port management in Africa. This aligns well with the CSIR's objectives of fostering innovation, driving economic development and contributing to sustainable practices,” says CSIR Research Group Leader Eugéne Mabille. “Through our participation we are able to advance pour engineering infrastructure, environmental sustainability technologies and improve our continental collaboration efforts,” he adds.  

Approximately 150 delegates from East and West Africa are expected to attend, including port managers, harbour masters, representatives from the International Association of Ports and Harbours, the International Harbour Master Association, the World Bank, the African Union and training institutions from South African universities and across the continent, as well as private sector companies from Africa. 

The event’s panel discussions will focus on key challenges facing ports and the future of African ports. The CSIR aims to engage delegates in discussions on its work in addressing port sustainability. Along with an exhibition booth, the CSIR’s showcase will feature engaging visual demonstrations that illustrate the dynamic interplay between natural processes supporting ecosystem services, local livelihoods and the engineering demands that ports must fulfil.

“The CSIR’s exhibition will provide a platform for delegates to engage with the team and explore various operational port equipment designed to improve the safety of shipping and port operations, such as live demonstrations of metocean instrumentations and weather monitoring systems, which are used to ensure good, continuous and reliable data,” says Johan Kieviet, CSIR senior engineer.

The CSIR has an excellent track record of supporting public and private sector enterprises in addressing port and coastal challenges. It integrates scientific insights into practical applications within port environments, leveraging expertise in metocean instrumentation, data collection and analysis, marine surveying, wind measurements, renewable energy modelling and physical hydraulic modelling to address coastal engineering challenges. “By providing scientific support and engineering solutions, we can develop, disseminate and apply tools designed to ensure the long-term sustainability of ports,” says Mabille.

“To be sustainable ports inevitably have to serve as multi-user systems,” says CSIR principal scientist and Research Group Leader, Steven Weerts. “In Africa there is a unique opportunity for ports to contribute to socio-economic development as trade facilitators in a manner that also serves wider societal benefit and promotes sustainability in coastal and the marine environments.”  

On the final day of the event, Transnet National Ports Authority will host an excursion at the Port of Cape Town, during which delegates can exchange insights on managing various aspects of maritime port operations that contribute to safe, secure, efficient and environmentally sound marine operations in port waters.