By Nangamso Mabindla
20 July 2004

EAST LONDON has a long maritime history. It is famed for the discovery of the world's oldest fish, the coelacanth, and for the development of the dolos - a unique sea-buffering system.

And it is the only port in the country on a river: the East London harbour is at the mouth of the Buffalo River.

It was at East London's port that the first dolos - designed by Eric Merrifield, who was then the harbour engineer - was used to replace the 30-ton rectangular cement blocks originally erected to protect the breakwater guarding the entrance to the harbour.

The design was an instant hit in Europe, bringing fame to the inventor and the harbour.

According to Dave Bowen, a draughtsman at the harbour, the dolos was voted the country's design of the century.

"It's an honour really to have at our harbour one of the designs that changed sea buffering. For it to be voted the design of the century by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research was fantastic," says Bowen.

The harbour's managers are proud of its past, but are also looking to the future.

The port's communications officer, Zethu Mkhondo, says the harbour is a gateway to the Border-Kei area. "We're not only about discovering the dolos, but we're about servicing people to the best of our ability."

The harbour - on the east coast of South Africa, between Durban and Port Elizabeth - serves a large part of the Eastern Cape and caters for trade between South Africa and northern neighbours.

Goods arriving by ship can be sent into the interior by rail; others can be delivered to the harbour for export.

It has an excellent rail system, serviced by a national network that provides access to all the major cities in South Africa and neighbouring countries. Cargo can also be directly unloaded on to railcars.

"We offer a top-quality personalised service and because of that we've become known for our reliability and we pride ourselves on efficient performance," says Mkhondo.

The port is also one of the major contributors to the city's economy.

"We have noticed that cost effectiveness, maintenance and growth have become significant economic priorities for the entire region and we constantly strive to meet these demands," says Mkhondo.

And, with its well-developed infrastructure and active expansion programme, the port has become one of the major vehicle export and import terminals in South Africa.

"These developments followed the success of automobile manufacturer, DaimlerChrysler SA, in securing an export order for the right-hand drive Mercedes Benz to a worldwide market," Mkhondo says.

One of the major functions of the port is the export of motor vehicles. Other exports are maize, pineapples, scrap steel, copper and granite.

Among the imports that enter the country at the East London port are vehicle components, grain products, machinery, chemicals, sugar, timber and textiles.

"The port offers the largest and most efficient bulk-handling facility for free-flowing grain products in the country," Mkhondo says.

The port also contributes to the city's tourism. International cruise liners that visit from Europe and other countries berth at the harbour.

But the port also has something for the locals: the East London harbour is home to the annual port festival - a colourful, two-day family event that offers some of the best entertainment all year.