CT port manager looks beyond Western Cape to grow volumes

Growing volumes at the Port of Cape Town is probably the biggest priority for port manager, Sipho Nzuza. “At the same time it is also our biggest challenge,” he said. “We are just not getting enough volumes and yes, the economy is one of the reasons not just locally but also in Europe and Asia. It is impacting everyone.” But, said Nzuza, who took over the reins at the port in August this year, they are pulling out all the stops to attract more volume to the port. “We are currently seeing a throughput between 700 000 and 750 000 TEUs per annum. Our aim is to increase that to at least 850 000 TEUs within the next few months.” He said putting a strategy in place that would ultimately result in higher volumes was a priority for him and his executive team. “As a port team we believe that engagement with our customers and our stakeholders is very important. Communication really is key, but at the same time it is also about getting the right message to those people,” he said. “At a major ports conference held in Cape Town recently, we made use of the opportunity to showcase the port to the various international visitors,” he said. “And it was not just show talk. What is just as important is the actual practical discharging of what we are saying. If you say you are efficient, then you must let the customer see that.” He said it was imperative to use opportunities to market the port in order to increase customers. “We have to think beyond the Western Cape to our role in the South African market and what can we offer international customers,” said Nzuza. “At the same time I believe it is only possible to be a globally competitive port if we have the right people in the right positions with the right tools at their fingertips.” Nzuza said now, more than ever, innovative thinking was required to find ways of increasing volume throughput at the port. According to Nzuza the ultimate goal is to cross the million-TEU mark. “We are increasing the port’s capacity at present so that it will be able to handle a million TEUs – and plans are already in the pipeline to up that figure to 1.4 million TEUs. That is what we should be aiming at – to see the volume increase to that of our capacity.” INSERT ‘Innovative thinking required to find ways of increasing volume throughput at the port.’ CAPTION Sipho Nzuza … ‘The ultimate goal is to cross the million-TEU mark.’