Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) will invest R1.7 billion into the Port of Cape Town ahead of this year’s peak season.
This comes after months of congestion with more and more vessels bypassing the port due to long delays.
“Capital investment to increase terminal equipment capacity is under way,” Cape Town Terminals (CTT) manager Pamela Yoyo told FTW last week. “A total of R1.7 billion has been allocated and will be used for the refurbishment of our RTGs and straddles as well as the fitting of anti-sway on the RTGs. We are also planning to purchase new straddle carriers.”
Yoyo said there had been an increase in the breakdown of equipment on the landside behind the ship-to-shore cranes. The capital investment would go a long way in addressing these breakdowns. “The refurbishment programme starts in June – and while we realise we will not see results immediately, we will be ready for the peak season with much of this equipment providing a reliable service.”
A new rail-mounted gantry would also be commissioned by July, improving rail efficiency significantly, she said. “It is about maximising our existing capacity and to do that we have decided to roll out our operation to an eight-gang operation. We are in the process of putting all the resources in place that such an operation will allow,” said Yoyo. “It won’t help going to eight gangs if we don’t have the equipment on the landside in place to support such an operation from behind. Once the refurbishment of the RTGs and straddles is completed we will extend to eight gangs.”
She said some of the capital injection would be used to test the anti-sway system for the port’s cranes. “We have a serious challenge working the cranes in strong winds in Cape Town,” said Yoyo. “There is an innovation by our engineering team with anti-sway and we will be testing that during this peak season.”
She said three pieces of equipment would be fitted with the anti-sway solution by November this year. “That will allow us to test it during the peak season, see if it really does make a difference, and assess the impact it has to then make a decision about rolling it out to all our equipment.” Yoyo said she and her team were committed to “turning the picture around at the terminal when it comes to productivity and operational efficiency”.
Also on the cards are dedicated express gates for empty containers and reefers. “We believe this will address the truck congestion we have been seeing. This is another area we are focusing on. We believe this will improve truck turnaround times.”
The port would also be starting night shift landside operations, said Yoyo. “We are going to have to work closely with industry with regards to the night shift to maximise the utilisation of the night shift.” Yoyo’s announcement was welcomed by industry across the board. Shipping lines were especially pleased with the eight-gang operation announcement.
“That is really needed in Cape Town,” said one liner. “The eight-gang operation is very important. During the windy season, we have a limited amount of time to get big vessels in and out of the port and an extra gang will make a major difference between sailing on a Tuesday rather than only the Thursday or Friday.”
Terry Gale, chairman of the Exporters’ Club Western Cape, said after months of congestion the commitment from TPT had come just in time. “It is a critical time at present for our port, the city and the province. Cape Town remains an important export hub and these initiatives by TPT are an indication that they have really listened to industry. These initiatives are very positive.”
CAPTION
The Port of Cape Town ... moving to an eight-gang operation.
