Congestion-free means different things to lines and port

SHIPPING LINES have challenged Portnet's contention that the Port of Durban is "fairly back to normal". Tau Morwe, g.m. of port operations division (POD), told the press that there was "no congestion" in Durban harbour, backed by port authority division (POD) g.m. Themba Gwala, who said the backlog had been cleared up at the beginning of the year. This has been contested by the lines, who are going to slap a mighty US$75 port congestion surcharge on every TEU handled - except transhipment. This from February 15, and until the port can cut down average ship delay to 12-hours for a continuous two-month period. Adding grist to the lines' mill is the fact that Durban is still being by-passed in favour of Port Elizabeth as the alternative port during the "congestion" period. Although Good Hope Express (GEX) has returned to Durban from its East London alternative of recent voyages, the SA Europe Container Service (SAECS) - with its fleet of bigger TEU-capacity "Great Whites" - is still not ready to return. The suggestion, however, from inside sources, is that they will very soon return to Durban calls. But that will only add to the pressure on Portnet to achieve that 12-hour average delay break-point.