CT port productivity impresses

Unlike the Port of Durban where congestion has become a traditional norm, the Port of Cape Town is meeting demand, and promises even better things in the future, according to Mike Walwyn, director of Seaboard and a recognised authority on Cape Town port matters. Currently, volumes are up, he told FTW, but instead of wilting to the strain, the productivity at the container terminal is actually on the up-and-up. “It has improved significantly,” he said, “with the recently installed tandem cranes helping to push shipto- shore cargo handling up to 27 gross crane moves per hour. “Stack capacity is running at about 65%, which is its optimum level.” Looking to the future, Walwyn noted that if the port were to get bigger volumes and a lot of strong winds, it could have problems – particularly before the quay upgrade is complete. “But,” he added, “after that, I don’t expect too much of a problem.”