The main intended function of the Port of Ngqura is to service the industrial bulk commodity requirements of the regional and national hinterland.

[5] Two of the physical characteristics that had the most significant influence on the lay-out of the port, were the paleo-channel that runs through the site and Jahleel Island that is situated 1 km off-shore.

The paleo channel provided an opportunity to establish a deepwater port without the need to dredge large quantities of consolidated material.

The bay's birdlife, which includes a significant African penguin population was deemed to be environmentally sensitive, so construction was forbidden within 500 m of the island.

The main breakwater was designed and constructed to meet the requirements of the Jahleel Island exclusion zone.

Littoral transport is maintained by a fixed embedded jet pump sand bypass that was a world-first.

The five-storey, 10 000 m2 building was named eMendi in reference to the SS Mendi troop ship that sank in the English Channel a hundred years before in 1917, carrying over 800 servicemen, the majority of whom were black South Africans.

[8] A lime kiln, dating back some 65 years is located outside the port side of the atrium and was declared a heritage site and protected against damage during construction.

In addition to offices, other facilities include a gymnasium, canteen, boardrooms, training rooms, a Port Operations Centre and staff rest areas.

The construction of the eastern breakwater water was a 24-hour operation with rock being tipped at a peak-time rate of a 40-ton truckload every three minutes.

Transnet is upgrading a rail corridor which will connect Ngqura with manganese mines around Hotazel in the Northern Cape.

The corridor would be 1,003 km long, and would mostly involve upgrades of existing rail lines; capacity is expected to increase from 5·5 million tonnes / year to 16 mpta.