The Port of Cape Town has managed to turn its performance around just 60 days after being taken to task by Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) chief executive Nozipho Sithole. Speaking in Cape Town last week, Sithole said although it was still not where it needed to be, progress was being made with vessel turnaround times improving and stacks being more flexible. In May Sithole promised port users in Cape Town that she and a team of executives would physically walk the port to identify challenges that were causing ongoing congestion after increasing complaints about the performance of the Cape Town Container Terminals (CTCT). Three crucial elements were identified as being problematic at CTCT – stack management, vessel turn-around times and berthing, as well as tug availability. Port management was given 90 days to come up with solutions. “We are happy to report to port users and the CE that we have made significant inroads in the past 60 days and have improved our performance,” said CTCT operations manager David Davids at a feedback business strategy session. This included improving flexibility with stack management, especially on reefer exports. “Yes, we are flexible,” he said. “With stack occupancy, we as far as possible try to enhance a 65% occupancy rate. We have internally discussed and agreed that when the stacks reach 75% we will send out daily communications to industry as we don’t want to necessarily go past that figure, but the flexibility is there. The normal stack guidance and principles are also in place.” Davids said in terms of tugs, three were at present available with a fourth one on standby should it be required. With equipment breakdown identified as one of the big causes of delays at the terminal, Davids said the sourcing of additional artisans was made a priority and recruitment was in progress. “Six artisans are set to start on August 1 and another four in September.” This would assist the port to service equipment far more efficiently and reduce the number of breakdowns. According to Davids there was only one break system with the drivers and since June 4 a staggered break system had been introduced that had improved the cycle time of cranes, which in turn, had resulted in improved vessel turnaround times. A total of 24 DAVs (Driver Articulated Vehicles) had also been brought on board with a second group set to start on October 1. “Previously we had said we would have eight reliable Rubber Tyre Gantries in Cape Town by the end of July, but at present we only have four. We will have the full complement of eight by September.” Delays had also been experienced with the Rail Mounted Gantry, but it was currently en route to Cape Town from Mombasa and would be commissioned no later than the end of September. In terms of statistics Davids said the interventions at the port had seen vessel turnaround times reduced from 28 hours to 23 hours, berthing delays had gone from 11 hours to nine hours and vessel changeover from four hours to 1,7 hours. “In May, there were on average at least five vessels outside the port waiting to berth. This has been reduced to zero.”
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We are happy to report to port users that we have made significant inroads in the past 60 days and have improved our performance. – David Davids
