The port also has significant repair and maintenance facilities that are used by several large fishing fleets and parts of the West African oil industry.

The history of the port follows that of Cape Town, which traces its roots back to 6 April 1652 when Jan van Riebeeck of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) established a revictualing station there.

A vicious storm in 1858, long after the demise of the VOC, saw 30 ships blown ashore and wrecked, with huge loss of life.

Lloyd's of London declined all further insurance on ships in Table Bay in winter, resulting in the British Colonial Government starting the construction, in 1860, of the first breakwater.

[2] Shipping company Maersk announced that they would be bypassing the Port of Cape Town from December 2023 due to reliability and transit time concerns.