Carriers await feedback over sporadic gate delays

ALAN PEAT THE EASING of congestion at the Port of Durban – where the lines have dropped the contentious “SA ports additional” surcharge – is also having a beneficial effect on road traffic movement in-and-out of the Durban container terminal (DCT). That's the word from Malcolm Sodalay of transport contractors and warehousemen, Sammar Investments, and chairman of the harbour carriers division of the SA Association of Freight Forwarders (SAAFF). However, it’s not always perfection, he added, with delays outside the gates being experienced from time to time. “Which does have a negative impact on truckers and the associated industries,” he told FTW. But the harbour carriers have just had what Sodalay described as “a constructive meeting” with terminal management. “We made known the current problems as we see them,” he said, “and made suggestions which we foresee as a solution to some of the problems being experienced. “Terminal management has also made us aware of issues impacting on their business – and which they are currently working on.” They have also requested time to study some of the association’s proposals, and have promised to report back and reveal their plans at a later stage.