State-owned Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) has started handling citrus exports at the Durban and Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha) container terminals for the season. The container terminals will be open over a 24-hour period and have dedicated lanes prioritizing refrigerated containers at the gates.
National berthing plans are to be updated daily and shared with industry, in order to avoid excessive open stack days where vessels are delayed in other terminals. Additionally, the repairing and maintenance of plug points and lighting has been concluded.
Improving efficiency was key to a prosperous citrus season, and Transnet had robust programs in place aimed at improving equipment availability and reliability throughout the season, TPT commercial and planning GM Michelle van Buren Schele stated.
Further, TPT handled 3.7% more citrus exports in 2022 than in 2021, despite the KwaZulu-Natal floods and new European Union (EU) regulations. In total, TPT moved 128 374 forty-foot equivalent units across its container terminals.
Source: engineeringnews.co.za