Filipino ports giant ICTSI fights for Durban port deal

International Container Terminal Services Inc (ICTSI) - the Filipino ports giant led by billionaire Enrique Razon - will appeal a KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Durban interdict today which has halted Transnet from implementing its public-private partnership deal with the group to take over operations of the Durban Container Terminal Pier 2 (DCT2).

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This comes as Denmark-based rival Maersk, through its subsidiary APM Terminals, approached the courts this year to overturn the contract.

The group is one of the failed bidders for the lucrative contract to run SA's largest shipping container handling facility.

ICTSI claims Maersk's court action is based on "a non-material technicality". It confirmed yesterday that it will seek leave to appeal the high court ruling that stops its partnership with SA state-owned ports and logistics group Transnet.

"In July 2023 Transnet awarded ICTSI, a global top 10 firm that runs 32 port terminals in 19 countries, the contract to run the Durban container terminal. This was done following a rigorous and transparent bidding process," it reiterated in a statement.

In October the KwaZulu-Natal High Court inexplicably ordered Transnet to halt further implementation of the agreement until the matter could be considered in court.