Johannesburg Projects worth R1bn at the Coega harbour have been put on hold due to the global economic crisis, the Eastern Province Herald reported on Tuesday.

The crisis has led to a dramatic fall in world shipping volumes.

While volumes through all of South Africa's harbours have dropped, January volumes at Coega were down 44% down on the same month last year, the newspaper said.

While the National Port Authority told the Herald that no jobs would be lost because of the postponements at Coega's new deep-water port of Ngqura, several key contracts - which would have been a boost for the Eastern Cape economy - would not be awarded.

Also, the NPA said staff lost through attrition would not be replaced.

However, Transnet told the newspaper that development at Ngqura was on track and that the port would be ready for the official opening later this year. This was in spite of the fact that several projects involving Ngqura had been dropped.

These included the construction of a administration building, the expansion of the container quay and a tug jetty.

However, none of the postponed projects had yet gone out to tender.

Infrastructure projects already under way, including the erection of six massive cranes, the port control building and the port entrance plaza, would not be affected.

A possible positive spin-off for Ngqura from the crisis-hit world maritime trade could be that major shipping lines would be looking for ports in which to "park" under-utilised or unused vessels, the Herald reported.

- Sapa