Spoornet CX's Bloemcon inland container terminal is now into its second month of operation, according to Marius Crous, business development manager at CX in Johannesburg.
Bloemcon's main objective is to capture container traffic onto rail, he said, and, therefore, will significantly streamline the receipt and despatch of goods by Free State importers and exporters. The main role players in the development of this facility are Spoornet CX, Portnet (City Deep), the SA Revenue Services' Customs & Excise section, and Spoornet marketing in the OFS. Previously, said Crous, imports would be manifested to Durban or Port Elizabeth. But, with the establishment of Bloemcon, the procedures have changed.
Customs has agreed to the concept of a through manifest, and, therefore, no Customs or removal-in-bound (RIB) formalities are required in the port of discharge. Bloemcon will also benefit exporters, according to Crous. They can rail their containers to the port of loading using a Combined Container Terminal Order, he said. Vessel stack dates will also be available and scheduled trains will be in place to-and-from the SA ports. The new inland harbour can handle 3-metre, 6-m and 12-m containers, and will also provide a cartage service to-and-from the customers' premises.
A computer tracking system is also in place to monitor all container movements.
For further information, customers can contact: Johan van Staden, container manager at Bloemcon - Telephone: (051) 408-2107, or Hannes Mynhardt, area manager for Spoornet marketing in Bloemfontein - Tel: (051) 408-2858.
