For collaboration
One connected network. From source to end destination.
Our logistics and maritime services cover everything from container solutions, road and rail transport, clearing and forwarding, cross-border and project logistics, ships agency, maritime procurement, and engineering.
We manage projects end to end. One shipment or a fully integrated solution, we deliver both. Our teams operate across all major transit corridors in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Every journey matters.
Container depots
Operational excellence. Delivered consistently.
Reliable container handling keeps cargo flowing, trade routes open and supply chains intact. We've spent over 40 years building the facilities, systems and teams to store, repair and move containers across our depots in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg. We work closely with our sister companies across the group, drawing on their terminals and warehousing to keep cargo moving.
Our services include:
Container storage and handling, empty and full
- Structural and mechanical repairs to IICL standards
- Cleaning and rework
- Reefer services, cold treatment, CA gassing and monitoring
- Second-hand container sales, including refrigerated units
- National transport for empty and full containers
- Clearing and forwarding, with our sister companies
Where we operate
- Cape Town, less than 3 km from the port terminal. 40 000 m², 5 000 TEU.
- Durban, 13 km from port, our largest reefer operation with 240 plug points. 40 000 m², 3 500 TEU.
- Johannesburg, 3.5 km from City Deep. 78 000 m², 4 500 TEU.
Container handling facility
Expanding container capacity at the Port of Richards Bay. Grindrod Eyamakhosi Joint Venture has been awarded a 25-year concession by Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) to develop and operate a container handling facility in the Bayvue precinct at the Port of Richards Bay.
The investment will increase the port's container handling capacity from 50 000 TEUs to 200 000 TEUs per year, supporting growing demand for containerised cargo in KwaZulu-Natal and the broader southern African region.
Designed as a modern logistics hub, the facility will incorporate advanced cargo-handling technology and specialised equipment to improve efficiency, reduce turnaround times and support the seamless movement of cargo by rail, road and sea.
The facility will expand trade capacity, lower logistics costs, improve supply chain efficiency and strengthen Richards Bay's role as a strategic gateway for regional and international trade.
Efficient rail solutions, reliable terminal throughput
The rail segment of the business, coordinates rail logistics, manages railway operations and leases rolling stock for freight customers across Africa.
Managing railways
From concession management through the Beitbridge Bulawayo Railway in Zimbabwe to heavy-haul operations on key trade corridors, we deliver rail solutions that keep cargo moving safely and efficiently.
Our capabilities include infrastructure management, rolling stock procurement and maintenance, train consist optimisation, safety management, training and train control.
As South Africa's rail reform gains momentum, Grindrod is well positioned to support a more competitive and efficient freight rail sector. Having secured third-party access on Transnet's North-East Corridor, we are playing an active role in unlocking rail capacity and creating greater choice for customers. Our locomotive fleet, supports this growing capability.
Rail is a cost-effective and sustainable transport solution for bulk commodities, reducing pressure on road networks, lowering long-term logistics costs and strengthening trade competitiveness across the region.
ROLLING STOCK LEASING
AND FINANCE
We lease locomotives and wagons to the rail and mining sectors in Africa. Our flexible funding solutions and a modern, purpose-built fleet enable customers to access the equipment they need while preserving capital for their core operations.
RAIL CONSULTANCY services
Rail freight broking
We offer a consultancy service that simplifies rail freight movements into and out of the Congolese and Zambian Copperbelt.. Customers benefit from one price, one invoice and one point of contact for the entire rail journey. We coordinate the movement of a wide range of commodities, including copper, cobalt and chrome, coal, limestone, clinker, sulphur, sulphuric acid, mining chemicals, fuel, fertiliser, construction materials and general containers.
Rail consultancy
Mines rely on our rail managers and engineers for independent advice across road, rail, port handling and seafreight. Our experience in designing, building, maintaining and financing fit-for-purpose rolling stock on the Cape gauge network sets us apart, including a lightweight flatbed container wagon built for routes where axle limits restrict payloads.
We combine operational expertise, rolling stock capability and integrated logistics solutions to help customers move freight more efficiently across southern Africa.
Enabling cargo flow to our terminals
We provide an end-to-end road service, moving cargo from point of origin to final destination across southern Africa's trade corridors. We run our own fleet of trucks alongside carefully selected independent transporters, so we can match the right vehicle and trailer to the cargo.
We carry standard and out-of-gauge loads, containerised, bulk, temperature-controlled, dangerous and high-value cargo. We handle full loads, part loads and groupage, at any frequency.
Clearing Services
We ensure cargo moves without documentation delays. Our clearing teams coordinate the port, vessel and customer documentation required to keep cargo flowing efficiently through the supply chain.
From preparing export documentation and shipping orders to managing Bills of Lading and cargo dues, we take care of the administrative processes that support every shipment.
We also manage vendor and disbursement payments, prepare laytime calculations, provide cargo and vessel operation reports, and deliver accurate shipment and tonnage reporting.
Our teams work closely with land-based operations to monitor cargo movements, reconcile stock, oversee stockpile management and provide regular inventory reporting.
On the marine side, we coordinate hatch inspections, draft surveys and supercargo services, while independently supervising cargo loading operations and managing cargo flow between port and storage facilities.
Efficient clearing and documentation reduce delays, improve visibility and help vessels, cargo and customers stay on schedule.
Freight forwarding
Röhlig-Grindrod handles freight forwarding, customs brokerage and related logistics, with offices in every major trading centre across five continents.
We manage your shipments worldwide, import, export and project cargo, by sea, air or land. You keep full visibility from the moment you place an order to final delivery, and the information to plan and review your supply chain as you go.
Talk to our team
CROSS BORDER AND PROJECT LOGISTICS
One point of contact for every southern African corridor
Our teams manage projects from start to finish, drawing on the wider group, from a single shipment to a full service. We have offices on every major transit corridor in southern Africa.
Our capabilities include
- A single point of contact and centralised invoicing
- An extensive network across southern Africa
- Tailor-made delivery, reliably done
- Specialist knowledge of project cargo
- Quick adaptation to shifting markets and local legal frameworks
- An independent cargo broker
- Petroleum import clearances
- Inter-Africa customs clearances and compliance
- Qualified, professional teams
We move a range of cargo, from petroleum, coal, chrome and steel to building materials, vehicles, fresh produce, chemicals and project cargo like earthmoving equipment and large steel structures. We relocate endangered animals and move day-old chicks.
We work with customers across every industry, including major retailers like Woolworths and Shoprite, freight forwarders, shipping lines, manufacturers, mining majors, commodity traders, and the oil and gas sector. As an independent agent we work with a range of stakeholders to deliver the best solution.
Your partner in port
Our ships agency has offices in 12 countries across the Indian Ocean region, backed by over 40 years in port. Our people are local. They speak the language, know the authorities and suppliers in each port, and apply global standards everywhere we work.
We act for ship owners, managers, operators and charterers, from around the globe. From arrival to departure, we handle the full call and the logistics chain around it, from accounts and documentation to loading and discharge, brokering to container tracking and co-ordination.
Port agency services
Keeping vessels moving, cargo flowing and port calls on schedule. Our ships agency teams coordinate every aspect of a vessel's call, providing a single point of accountability from arrival to departure.
- Cargo Loading & Discharge: We oversee cargo loading and discharge operations to ensure safe, efficient vessel turnaround and accurate cargo handling.
- Owners' Agency: Acting on behalf of vessel owners, we manage port call requirements, regulatory compliance and operational coordination.
- Charterers', Shippers' & Receivers' Agency: We represent cargo interests throughout the port call, ensuring seamless communication and efficient cargo execution.
- Full Agency: A complete agency solution covering vessel, cargo and stakeholder management from pre-arrival planning to final departure.
- Clearing Services: We manage the documentation, approvals and reporting required to keep cargo moving and minimise delays.
- Husbandry Services: From crew changes and medical assistance to provisions and logistics support, we take care of the vessel's operational needs while in port.
- Off-Port Limits Services: We provide specialist agency support for naval, passenger and other vessels operating outside port limits.
- Crew Assistance: Our teams coordinate visas, transport, accommodation and welfare services for crew members.
- Ship Repair Coordination We arrange and manage repair activities, connecting vessels with trusted service providers to minimise downtime.
- Security Services: We coordinate vessel and crew security requirements to ensure safe port operations.
- Protective Agency: Independent oversight and reporting that protects our clients' interests, providing transparency and peace of mind throughout the port call.
Efficient ships agency services reduce delays, improve communication and ensure vessels, crews and cargo are handled professionally at every stage of the journey.
Super cargo and vessel chartering
Complex cargo requires hands-on oversight. Our supercargo specialists manage cargo loading, stowage, securing and discharge to ensure every operation is executed safely, efficiently and according to plan.
We provide specialist supervision for:
- General cargo - overseeing stowage and securing, with optimised coordination across all parties.
- Wind turbines and blades - managing stowage and securing for oversized and high-value project cargo.
- Steel cargo - coordinating loading and discharge to maximise efficiency and minimise risk.
- Abnormal lifts - ensuring safe, controlled handling of heavy and out-of-gauge cargo.
- Bulk parcelling - managing cargo flow to achieve accurate segregation and efficient vessel loading.
Our teams work closely with Masters, stevedores, port agents and other stakeholders to coordinate operations and resolve challenges before they impact vessel schedules.
Additional services include:
- Pre-loading and discharge inspections
- Lashing inspections
- Vessel suitability assessments
- Operational risk assessments
- Comprehensive reporting with photographic records
Safety comes first. Through careful planning, independent oversight and detailed reporting, we help reduce operational risk, minimise cargo damage and downtime, and provide full transparency from loading to discharge. Trusted by global shippers and charterers, we ensure complex cargo moves safely and efficiently.
Talk to our teamMaritime procurement
Marine safety, servicing and supply
Grindrod maritime procurement keeps vessels safe, compliant and supplied. We service the survival and fire equipment that protects your crew, calibrate the instruments that keep you accurate, and supply the provisions, parts and systems that keep you moving.
We are the first multi-manufacturer approved lifeboat and davit service provider in Africa, trained by over 20 manufacturers and approved to service across every major African port. From three bases, we travel to any port in Africa at short notice, on board your vessel or rig, wherever the work is.
Survival servicing
- We service what saves lives. Lifeboats, davits, rescue craft and life rafts, tested and overhauled to manufacturer standard.
Supplying of life rafts
- We sell and service marine safety equipment, immersion suits, lifejackets and electronic equipment.
Fire safety
- We keep fire equipment ready. Servicing, sale and high-pressure testing, backed by our SANAS-approved station.
Calibration
- We keep instruments accurate. On-site calibration, diagnostics and repairs to OEM and ISO 9001:2015 specification, on board or offshore.
Chandling
- We supply the vessel. Provisions, parts and equipment, delivered dockside.
Marine systems
- We procure and commission auxiliary systems. Installation and servicing for leading OEMs, including Gefico, Cathelco, SKF and Daihatsu.
Technologies
- We provide a specialised technical service and procure auxiliary marine systems.
On board, in the yard, in the field
Grindrod maritime engineering keeps vessels in Class and running, on board, in the yard and in the field. With over 40 years in marine engineering, we cover the full scope from a single point of contact: ship repair, fabrication, rigging, inspection and the finishing trades.
We work on board your vessel, in your factory, or in our workshops near Cape Town Harbour, Simon's Town and Saldanha Bay. The same engineering serves both marine work to keep your vessel in Class and turnkey industrial work for plant and heavy engineering across the manufacturing, mining, FMCG and oil and gas sectors.
Ship repair and propulsion
- We cover the vessel, from the hull to the engine. Repair, maintenance, propulsion systems and valve overhauls, in Class at all times.
Project management and fabrication
- We run the project end-to-end. Turnkey management, custom steel fabrication, coded welding and on-site installation.
Inspection and testing
- We verify the work. Pressure testing, non-destructive testing and root cause analysis.
Finishing
- We complete the vessel. Carpentry, blasting, coating, painting and tank cleaning.