Mossel Bay (South Africa)

Mossel Bay is a port town with natural deep-water harbour and population around 130,000. It is located on South Africa's Southern Cape (Garden Route). This is a major farming and tourism region of Western Cape Province, located approx 400 km (250 ml) east of Cape Town and approx 400 km west of Port Elizabeth. City's older parts occupy the north-facing side of the peninsula, while the newer straddle the peninsula and spread eastwards along the coast. City's total area is approx 42 km2 (16 ml2).

Its economy was heavily based on commercial fishing, farming and shipping trade (seaport activities) until the discovery of natural offshore gas fields in 1969. Soon was built a gas-to-liquids refinery (operated by PetroSA). Another major industry is tourism.

Port Mossel Bay (owned and managed by Transnet National Ports Authority) is South Africa's smallest commercial harbor. It serves mostly the oil industry and homeports a fishing fleet.

For over a century, Mossel Bay was a holiday travel destination for South Africans. The industry was boosted after ATKV (Afrikaanse Taal en Kultuur Vereniging) purchased the farm Hartenbos (in 1930s) and started developing it as a holiday resort.

City's major attractions include the stable dry and warm weather, Indian Ocean and the perfect beaches. With the development of inland accommodations, modern vehicles and roads, region's broader environment is now vital to the local tourism industry.

Port Mossel Bay's cargo and cruise shipping operations are managed by TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority). This is Africa's largest port authority company that manages 7 large seaports in South Africa - Mossel Bay, Durban, Cape Town, Richards Bay, East London,  Port Elizabeth, and Saldanha.