South African private terminal operator FPT has acquired another reach stacker to boost their quayside efficiency. Reach stackers are much less sensitive to wind than straddle carriers; during peak summer, the port of Cape Town experiences winds of high speed.
The new equipment will assist with the exports of grapes and stone fruit in the season ahead.
Reach stackers in action at FPT's Cape Town terminal (photos supplied by FPT)
"Because of all the pressure and delays at the Cape Town Container Terminal, more of the container lines want to use FPT to assist with the decongestion, so we immediately acquired another reach stacker – we had four already - to be able to turn the vessels around quicker," says Paulo Franco, managing director of the FPT Group which operates private terminals in the ports of Cape Town, Durban, and Port Elizabeth.
Paulo remarks that they would like to acquire more reach stackers, but there's a long waiting list worldwide for them. FPT was fortunate to procure this one locally.
Terminal management with the newly-arrived reach stacker; they'd like to procure more, but there's a waiting list worldwide.
He explains that FPT's lease with Transnet limits their operations to geared vessels, which the private operator may handle.
"We approached container lines in Cape Town that have geared vessels to see whether we can be of assistance, and we've now managed to handle some of the major shipping lines bringing most of their geared vessels to us. It has definitely improved the turnaround time and assisted in decongesting the Port of Cape Town. Furthermore," he adds, "it ensures that our Cape Town terminal is ready for the fast-approaching fruit export season."
For more information:
Paulo Franco
FPT
Email: paulo_franco@fpt.co.za
https://fpt.co.za/