Cape Town is situated approximately 120 nautical miles north-west of Cape Agulhas, the most southerly point in Africa. Port limits extend westwards by a straight line between Green Point and Robben Island Lighthouses, and northwards by a straight line from Robben Island Lighthouse east (true) to the eastern shore of Table Bay, southwards along high water mark, so as to include the Foreshore to the Castle, and back to Green Point Lighthouse.

Mossel Bay has always been a fishing port of substance with limited commercial cargo activity. More recently, however, it has started to service the oil industry as well and today, these two industries play a major role in the development of the port.

Situated on the west coast of Africa, 60 nautical miles north-west of Cape Town, the port of Saldanha is the deepest and largest natural port in Southern Africa and is partly protected by an artificial breakwater.