Collaborative approach pushes up DCT productivity

But criteria for lifting of surcharge still out of reach JOY ORLEK EIGHTEEN MONTHS since the formation of the Interim Advisory Board (IAB), the percentage of vessels worked at an average of 16 crane moves and more per hour at Durban Container Terminal has trebled from 25% at the end of 2002 to 75% in February this year. But until this figure is achieved on a sustainable basis the port surcharge will remain in place. That was the message from Captain Dave Rennie, chairman of the Container Liner Operators Forum (Clof), and SA Port Operations executive manager corporate strategy and continuous improvement, Mervin Chetty, at a media briefing in Johannesburg last week. As joint chairmen of the IAB, an industry-led collaborative partnership which aims to improve South Africa’s supply chain, they are optimistic that the criteria for the lifting of the surcharge will be achieved by the end of the year. In the international marketplace, it’s not about companies that compete but supply chains that compete, and to be globally competitive you need buy-in from all players, Chetty told FTW. That’s the motivation behind the IAB which pools the collective resources of Transnet, Sapo, National Ports Authority, Clof, Spoornet, SA Association of Freight Forwarders and a Technical Task Team. Rennie however made it clear that Clof was not the lapdog of the port and terminal authorities. “But our future depends on each other,” he told FTW. “The container supply chain involves more than the port and ships.” The objective of the IAB is to find short-term solutions to the ports’ congestion problems while the authorities play catch-up with their investment programmes, and according to Chetty much has been achieved so far. So much so that the programme was rolled out to Port Elizabeth and Cape Town at the end of last year, where the benefits are also beginning to filter through. Some significant progress is already evident at DCT: ¥ Average truck turnaround has been reduced from 45-50 minutes in 2002 to an average 20-25 minutes from gate in to gate out. ¥ Gross crane productivity has improved substantially over the period. (See graph). While in 2002 fewer than 15% of vessels achieved 16-18 moves, currently 25-35% achieve 18-20 moves. “While there might still be backlogs at times at DCT, the situation is far more fluid now than it was in 2001 when delays were as long as 5-7 days,” Rennie said.