Charters add competitive options GoReefers handles more pallets despite tough conditions

RAY SMUTS TOUGH EXPORT conditions notwithstanding, GoReefers’ dedication to a loyal client base has yielded gratifying dividends, a 15% increase in the the number of fruit pallets handled this year. MD Delena Engelbrecht believes successes achieved are thanks to expertise within the company, its international network and sound relationships with selected service providers able to support clients’ export initiatives. That the company remains fiercely independent is certainly also a plus. She is not alone in her assessment that curtailing costs is the key to survival, a sphere in which GoReefers has excelled by offering clients effective solutions to achieve just that. GoReefers is not a fruit packer or seller; rather it handles all logistical aspects between the two facets, and the company’s track record has established a reputation as a fruit export logistical service provider of note. Alluding to a “tough shipping season”, Engelbrecht says chartering vessels to the EU and Mediterranean at crucial times has been instrumental in offering additional shipping opportunities at very competitive rates. Aside from GoReefers’ charter programme, she is well satisfied with the state of affairs at the company’s Ethekweni cold store facility near Durban, opened last year in response to customer demand. “Regular innovative logistics solutions are offered to our clients so they may select the most effective option for their particular circumstances given that their bottom line is, in the final analysis, the determining factor.” Known for her forthright views on productivity in South African ports, she says although there are signs the infrastructure is being addressed, port surcharges still prevail in Durban with no immediate sign of let-up. Port Elizabeth, stuck with a shortage of reefer plug points and overfull stacks, is little better and she is not convinced the supporting infrastructure will be able to handle the arrival of a new generation of larger container vessels next year. As to what the new season might hold, Engelbrecht asserts: “The challenge of a strong rand will put pressure on the industry to find the best markets for its products and the most cost-effective means of serving these markets. In this regard, GoReefers has spearheaded the creation of new ideas and services. “We look forward to the new season with confidence and stand ready to pro-actively support our clients.”