City Deep reputation slumps to all-time low

The reputation at the City Deep inland port has slumped to the lowest of lows, with delays, congestion, operational and management problems and lost containers just some of the criticism levelled at the depot by FTW readers. “It just hasn’t managed to get over the problems that escalated to impossible levels during the Transnet strike months ago,” said one. One of the problems is the storage of empty boxes for shipping lines who found themselves overstocked at strike time. “But City Deep is still storing empties,” FTW was told, “which it shouldn’t do, because it has just led to congestion which seriously reduces its ability to accept loaded boxes.” And another despondent reader sent FTW a copy of one of the recent pleas which had been e-mailed out by City Deep management. “Currently,” it said, “terminal is operating with just three reach stackers and we foresee delays. Therefore would like to advise you as our valued client to reduce the number of trucks you send during the day into the terminal.” This, the “valued client” told FTW, was just one of the many shortages and mishaps that only exacerbate the serious inadequacy of this ageing facility. “It’s completely past its time,” he added, “and just can’t meet the demands of a 21st century freight industry.” One of these demands is that there should be a fast, flexible, guaranteed movement of containers in and out of such a depot. Adding to its woes, Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) has been “losing” boxes, according to two of the biggest contract users of the service, although both agreed that they were always traced.