The three-kilometre long jetty at Saldanha Bay. Via the covered conveyor belt seen in the photograph, iron ore is taken from a stockpile to the ore carriers (seen at the ore loading berth in the distance). The two ships in the upper right part of the photograph are handysize bulk carriers at the Multi-Purpose Terminal. The one on the right is loading rolled steel, brought from the steel mill about three kilometers from the port and stowed in the large shed in the photograph until loaded onto the ships. The other vessel is loading one of the other bulk cargoes that pass through the port. At the end of the ore jetty, very large crude carriers discharge crude oil that is sent by pipeline to the oil refinery at Cape Town. Photograph : Brian Ingpen

Ship-loaders loading iron ore into a Capesize bulk carrier. Note the hatchcovers that have been moved to the side so that the ore can be loaded. Loading has been completed in the hatch nearest the camera and therefore the hatchcover has been closed. Photograph : Brian Ingpen

The original use of Saldanha Bay was to land and process fish. This role expanded and modern trawlers, as well as more traditional “Cape” purse-seine fishing vessels and smaller “snoek” boats now use the fishing harbour. Modern fish processing factories (canneries, freezing plants) and fishmeal factories are visible in the photograph. Photograph : Andrew Ingpen