Africa must aim for regional port network

Collaboration and
co-operation is the way
forward for African ports
that are facing increased
competition from each other.
That was the message from
experts at the second African
Ports Evolution conference in
Cape Town last week who said
European ports had learned
this lesson the hard way when
attempts to move cargo faster
by introducing short-sea
shipping disastrously failed.
“We realised that by
working together as ports we
could optimise the logistics
concept,” said Gert-Jan
Nieuwenhuizen, director
international projects with
the Port of Amsterdam. That
partnership was extended to
customers with much better
results.”
He said in Africa a network
of ports stood a far greater
chance of success than
individual ports trying to
make ends meet.
“When you look at South
Africa’s ports on their own, for
instance, it is very clear that
each port has a specialised
function and focus. This can
be extended to the region,
but instead of several ports
all fighting for the same pie it
will be much more beneficial
for all to get a slice by working
together.”
He said as vessels were
getting bigger they no longer
wanted to call at each and
every port – and even more
so when several ports were
offering the same business.
“So ports are going to
have to work together much
more closely as they will still
have cargo flow demand
from those vessels, but will
not necessarily have callings.
If you create a network of
ports through inland dry
ports and connect them all
together in a region you are
creating a much more efficient
system in the long run,” he
said. “It is all about creating
a synergy in your region that
will ultimately be more cost
effective and operationally
more efficient.”