MOSSEL BAY NEWS - "Tourism is a pivotal driving force for local economic development in the years ahead. Every effort should be made to enhance business opportunities that will serve the tourism industry.
"The Port of Mossel Bay may prove to be a game changer in this regard," Mossel Bay executive mayor, Alderman Harry Levendal said on Friday, 21 July when stakeholders met to discuss the role of the Mossel Bay Harbour as an impetus for local economic development.
An exciting development is the proposed harbour festival, provisionally planned for the weekend of 8 December. This is but one of the initiatives planned by the Port of Mossel Bay to boost the synergy between the harbour and the local community.
Mayor Levendal asked that the municipal manager, Adv Thys Giliomee and Mossel Bay Business Chamber ensure that Mossel Bay develops into the top tourist destination in order to facilitate job creation and business opportunities for the youth.
"We need stop talking and take the lead."
Harbour turnaround
Port of Mossel Bay acting manager, Vanya Cloete said the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) is working on a turnaround strategy to increase and improve its business offering. She said port authorities had embarked on a marketing drive and would investigate all options available for business growth, one of which may be the proposed waterfront development.
"Being such a small port limited proposed development options," Cloete said.
"The Port of Mossel Bay's infrastructure is old. Ir requires an integrity study. Work on the upgrade of the slipway is planned for the 2018/19 financial year, while Quay Three needs to be reinforced.
Further limitations include the small turning circle inside the port, the lack of cranes to handle containers, and the difficulty of moving cargo in and out of the port." She said freight rail into the port may be a consideration.
An exciting development is the proposed harbour festival, provisionally planned for the weekend of 8 December.
Advocate Giliomee alluded to the opportunities for business expansion and development should Transnet's bulk transport infrastructure be rejuvenated. He said the proposed regional waste landfill site planned for Mossel Bay would soon accept waste from municipalities across the Eden district. "Transporting waste in bulk via rail or sea may alleviate the load burden on national roads and unlock several related opportunities for entrepreneurs."
Fishing industry
According to Afro Fishing chief executive, Dewald Lourens snr, research indicates sardines are moving towards the Southern Cape.
"This may result in fishing vessels from the West Coast increasingly having to make use of the harbour. Upgrades of the slipway are imperative for the fishing industry to comply with legislation. Boats from as far afield as Gansbaai are reliant on Mossel Bay for inspections and repairs.
"Afro Fishing, however, has to import stock from Morocco to keep the cannery going. The harbour cannot handle containers of 28 tons. Therefore, we have to use nearby harbours for imports. Locally vessels are catching less fish owing to climate change and aquafarming should be considered as an alternative."
The chairperson of the Mossel Bay Business Chamber, Fanus Truter, said the chamber's Indaba planned for September would be the ideal opportunity to do a proper stocktake of the commodities being produced in the area within the next decade that may require the services of a port.
Customer conference
Sithembiso Soyaya, marketing and communications manager at the the Port of Mossel Bay, said they are planning a Customer Conference in September.
Tourism chief executive Marcia Holm said although the cruise liner industry was seasonal, cruise line passengers should be retained in Mossel Bay for longer.
The film industry should be lobbied to invest in the area during the off-season.
Deputy Executive Mayor Dirk Kotzé referred to initiatives to renovate the central business area and said the waterfront development would greatly benefit these efforts.
"Mossel Bay has a unique Mediterranean/African feel that the town's tourism should capitalise on."
ARTICLE: NICKEY LE ROUX, MOSSEL BAY ADVERTISER JOURNALIST
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