'Cape doctor' sets off terminal delay headache

RAY SMUTS
A COMBINATION of wind stoppages, vessel bunching and a vessel missing its berthing slot led to a number of operational delays at Cape Town container terminal last week. It turns out the problem started on Sunday, February 18, when winds of 80km/h forces Sapo personnel to cease operations for eight hours. This was followed by Safmarine Nomazwe delayed for a total of 53.5 hours from the time of arrival till work got underway, due to her missing her window, and waiting for MSC Olga to vacate the missed slot. The slot agreement between Sapo and the lines allows for a maximum six-hour berthing delay, on top of which it should also be borne in mind the Mother City container terminal has only four berths, although a fifth appears to be on the cards. February 18 and 19 were further complicated by 11 arrivals last week., leading to ‘bunching’ delays; MSC Volta (52.5 hours), Duburg (49.42 hours) and Kota Karim (36 hours). Speaking to FTW last Friday (February 23), terminal planning manager David Davids said four vessels, MOL Cullinan, MSC Canada, MSC Sarah and OACL Sezela, were due over the weekend, work scheduled to start promptly on all, but Maersk Neustad would be delayed for around 18 hours and MOL Columbus for 30 hours. * Terminal business unit manager, Oscar Borchards, says average berthing delays have increased slightly, from eight to around ten hours.