Port Worker

Company / Operating Division:
Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) — Cape Town Container Terminal (CTET)

Department: TPT, Operations

Position Title:

Port Worker

Vacancy Reference: req
6075

Job Grade: HRLYL1

Employee Group:
Non-Permanent

Location:

Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

Reporting To:
Operations Manager

Closing Date: 27 October 2026

Governance Framework:
Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993 (OHSA), Merchant Shipping Act 57 of 1951, International Convention for Safe Containers (CSC), Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) Codes, Transnet Safety, Health, Environment and Quality (SHEQ) Standards, National Ports Act 12 of 2005

The Port Worker () at Transnet Port Terminals (Cape Town Container Terminal) executes manual cargo handling, reefer temperature and power connection monitoring, container condition inspection, rail wagon lock manipulation, and operational equipment sanitation.

Operating in a high-density, 24/7 maritime container terminal environment, the Port Worker ensures optimized berth, rail, and stack throughput, prevents cargo damage, adheres to terminal traffic and safety plans, maintains clean equipment cabins and facilities, and upholds strict compliance with Transnet maritime SHEQ standards and standard operating procedures.

Clean STS crane cabins Inspect ISO containers for Plug/unplug cold-chain Unlock/lock rail twist-locks, & glass; sweep quay, structural defects; assist reefer units; monitor place dunnage, tarp cargo, sheds, & workshops. spreader hooking/unhooking. temps & record logs. & clear rail truck decks.

• Equipment Cabin Sanitation: Clean operator cabs, control consoles, and windows of heavy port equipment—including Ship-to-Shore (STS) cranes, Rubber-Tyred Gantry (RTG) cranes, and Straddle Carriers—ensuring unobstructed operator visibility.
• Yard & Facility Housekeeping: Sweep and maintain operational quays, rail tracks, workshops, offices, sheds, and ablution facilities, removing hazardous debris and oil spill hazards.

• Container Condition Audits: Inspect incoming and outgoing ISO container surfaces, corner castings, doors, seals, and lock rods for structural dents, punctures, or breaches, recording defects prior to vessel/rail movements.
• Hooking & Unhooking Operations: Execute safe manual rigging, hooking, and unhooking of specialized slings, spreader bars, and lifting gear onto non-standard or breakbulk cargo.
• Dunnage, Tarping & Slacking: Position and secure dunnage wood beneath heavy cargo, apply protective tarpaulins over weather-sensitive freight, and assist with cargo slacking operations per standard procedures.

• Reefer Plug In / Plug Out: Connect and disconnect electrical power cables for temperature-controlled reefer containers in the reefer stack or vessel side under safety protocols.
• Temperature Audits: Conduct periodic temperature readings, set-point verifications, and alarm monitoring, logging physical reefer performance data into terminal tracking logs.

• Twist-Lock Manipulation: Open, close, align, and test mechanical twist-locks on flatbed rail wagons before container loading or offloading operations by crane operators.
• Safety & Incident Logging: Identify correct cargo handling equipment/gear for specific loads, report site hazards immediately, and complete mandatory documentation (e.g., accident/incident reports).

• Formal
  
  Education:
  
  Option 1 Standard:
  Grade 12 / NQF Level 4;
  Option 2 Standard:
  Grade 10 / NQF Level 2
• Relevant
  
  Experience:
  
  Minimu…