Berth upgrades unlikely to have major impact on citrus

The issue of the Durban berth upgrades – which will leave the Durban container terminal (DCT) 400 000 TEUs a year short of capacity – is not seen to be a major obstacle for exporting citrus reefer (refrigerated) containers out of Durban, according to Mitchell Brooke, logistics development manager at the Citrus Growers’ Association (CGA). “We concluded, after assurances from Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) at an initial meeting, that the berth upgrades would have no effect on the citrus industry,” he told FTW. This, he added, was based on the fact that TPT said that its diversion strategy (to other berths in the Port of Durban, and to other harbours) referred mostly to general purpose (GP) containers – not reefers. “The core lines which ship out reefers – the likes of MSC, Safmarine and Maersk – would remain at DCT Piers 1 and 2, and they probably move about 80% of the reefer export trade.” While Brooke has been assured he can discount delays from the berth upgrades, he still expects to have to face the delay factors he described as “the normal course for DCT”. “The main issues that congest DCT were seen to be Navis-related, weather and wind factors, poor productivity and vehicle breakdowns along Bayhead Road,” he said. INSERT: ‘Core lines will remain at DCT Piers 1 and 2, and they probably move about 80% of the reefer export trade.’