An increase in the diversion
of transhipment cargo
from Durban to Ngqura
has created a window of
opportunity for importers
and exporters in the Eastern
Cape.
For the first time a
shipping line is able to offer
direct calls to and from
Ngqura servicing all six of
the main continents, says
Arthur Waters, Eastern
Cape regional director of
Mediterranean Shipping
Company.
MSC has been the
pioneer in the port of
Ngqura.
On Sunday, October 4,
2009, the MSC Catania
was the first commercial
vessel to call on the port
of Ngqura – and since then
MSC has had a further 557
vessels, making MSC the
biggest port user at the port.
On July 8, the 11 660-
TEU MSC Sola became
the largest vessel to call on
Ngqura.
A total of 5 097
containers was handled
on and off the MSC Sola,
making it the biggest single
shipment to be handled on
one vessel by the port to
date.
Ngqura is being used
by MSC for transhipment
cargo in order to
accommodate the upgrading
of the port of Durban.
Waters urges shippers in
the Eastern Cape and rest of
the region to take advantage
of this opportunity to
leverage the logistics links
to the rest of the world.
“We now offer a direct
service to all global
destinations, and we need
to ensure that it continues,”
he says.
In addition MSC has
its own container depot,
handling both dry and
reefer containers, while
MSC Logistics has a fleet
of trucks to service the
landside operations for
importers and exporters.
“This creates a ‘One Stop
Shop’ for all our clients,”
says Waters.
While shipping lines like
MSC are playing their part
in helping Transnet achieve
its stated goal of positioning
Ngqura as a regional hub,
Waters believes that the
parastatal could do more on
its side.
Total logistics costs from
the port to the hinterland
and back need to be
equalised with those of
Durban and Cape Town.
There are various ways
this could be achieved –
including through equalised
rail rates, lower marine
costs, or a combination of
both.
Shipping lines are
marketing their services as
a through bill of lading, and
not just port to port. They
– and their clients – choose
the most cost-effective
option looking at the total
costs, and not just those of
the port, he says.
“We are lobbying hard
through the Nelson Mandela
Bay Business Chamber to
make Eastern Cape ports
more cost-competitive,” he
says.
CAPTION
The MSC Sola being worked by six gantries in the port of Ngqura.
