WERE YOU one of those who enjoyed a quizzical smile at one of the recent demands from the forum of shipping lines? The one that said Portnet must limit the wind factor at Cape Town? (FTW 12 June, 1998).
Well smile no more! The shipping lines were serious, and so also is Portnet.
Among the action points agreed between the parties at their recent meeting is a gantry crane adjustment factor aimed at alleviating the severity of the wind at Cape Town.
What happens at the moment (or at least when the wind is blowing above 80 km/h), is that Portnet stops all gantry crane working at the terminal. However, it turns out that the cranes are listed as safe for wind speeds well in excess of that. It also transpires that 50% of present stoppages occur when the wind is gusting between 80 and 90 km/h. Therefore the answer is simple - increase acceptance of wind speed to 90 km/h and the terminal working time can be increased accordingly. All it required was for everyone to get together and talk it out.
By Terry Hutson
