Vessels waiting at anchorage for up to nine days to berth because of stormy seas at the Cape Town Container Terminal (CTCT), with leading lines often preferring to bypass Table Bay for the sake of schedule integrity elsewhere, is an issue receiving serious attention.
Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) this morning told Freight News that wind-related delays had forced CTCT to go back to the drawing board, with a keen focus on planning and the deployment of equipment.
The move comes as cargo throughput has been adversely affected by weather conditions.
Looking at personnel challenges, which private sector concerns often flag as a primary problem at the port, TPT said: “Seven cranes are currently in operation supported by seven gangs this week, which is a 70% improvement in productivity, owing to integrated planning with customers.”
Part of the progress that was being made, acting terminal manager Oscar Borchards, said, was thanks in part to the twice-weekly trouble-shoot meetings held by public and private sector representatives.
“Engaging with industry regularly has served us well in the past few days and we are grateful to have them as running partners.”
Borchards added though that it was important to consider the dynamic elements pertaining to the Port of Cape Town – elements that at any given moment could cause disruption, often of an extreme nature.
“We are currently working across three berths compared to two last week, with close monitoring of shift performance and ensuring the upkeep of standard Covid-19 preventative measures for the well-being of our employees.”