Few understand the profound
impact containerisation has
had on changing the world.
Before containerisation a
10 000t general cargo ship would
have a crew of about 50. From a
productivity point of view that
meant each crew member was
needed for the equivalent cargo
that could fit into ten containers.
Today the 25 crew on a modern
containership carrying over 16 000
containers are over 60 times more
productive!
The effect of containerisation on
stevedoring productivity was even
more profound.
The bottom line is that the
cost of moving products globally
is a fraction of what it was.
Globalisation would not have been
possible without the advent of the
container.
FTW was started 40 years ago
when it became clear that South
Africa would follow the world trend
towards intermodalism. Three years
later on July 1, 1977, SA officially
entered the container era when,
in series of ceremonies across the
country, the three largest ports
and Johannesburg simultaneously
opened their container terminals
for business.
C-Day was a triumph of central
planning that no other country was
ever able to emulate.
Over the past four decades we’ve
seen a major shift in
the balance of power
as emerging markets
have taken the baton
from more
traditional
trade
giants,
with a
new world
focus on
the African
continent.
But the
postapartheid
euphoria has dimmed and South
Africa’s reputation as the gateway
to the continent is now under
threat as economic and political
disarray open the door for our
innovative neighbours.
Another big game-changer
over the past decades has
been the advent of electronic
communication – particularly as
commoditisation has forced a new
focus on value-add.
For FTW, the internet has
provided rich new opportunities.
Our sister electronic publication
FTW Online is seeing huge
escalation in readership and there
are big plans to extend our valueadded
content.
However,
while
innovation
will continue
to map our
future, we
will always
remain true to the values
of our visionary founder
John H Marsh who used his
publications to stimulate new
ideas and rattle cages.
This anniversary issue
explores future trends in
every industry sector. But it also
provides a platform for our readers,
who offer their perspectives on the
most significant developments of
the past 40 years and their logistics
dreams for the future.
To all our loyal readers and
advertisers, stay on board and
brace yourselves for the next leg of
our exciting and eventful journey.
We hope you enjoy the ride!
– Dave Marsh, Joy Orlek.
INSERT
Today the 25 crew on a
modern containership
carrying over 16 000
containers are over 60
times more productive!
