According to Transnet Port Terminals, the Durban Container Terminal Pier 2, which handles most of the country’s container traffic, has reduced the backlog of vessels at anchor from 20 to five since November.
“Weather conditions with wind gusts of up to 100 km per hour and extreme swells have interrupted container operations across the Durban, Cape Town, Ngqura and Port Elizabeth container terminals over the past two weeks,” says Transnet in a statement.
Transnet Port Terminals, which manages SA’s seven ports, says the reduction in vessels at anchor outside Durban’s Pier 2 terminal is due to employees working through the December long weekends, with 100% worker attendance, and operational improvements that have reduced waiting times for critical spare parts for handling equipment. Original equipment manufacturers are on site at each of the Durban port terminals to provide around-the-clock support.
The reduction in the vessel backlog to single digits is in keeping with a forecast made by Transnet Port Terminals in December, as more gantry cranes were brought into service and efficiency improvements – including an extra shift and 24-hour on-site spares availability for handling equipment – were announced.
Source: moneyweb.co.za
