Worker’s Day takes its toll RAY SMUTS CAPE TOWN container terminal last Friday (May 7) returned to normal after berthing delays of up to 47 hours on May 3. This was the result of the May 1 Worker’s Day public holiday which saw the entire 540-strong workforce officially off duty. “The 24-hour break obviously spilt over into the following week,” said newly-appointed container terminal business unit manager Oscar Borchards, “but the shipping community was advised in advance that May 1 would be a holiday.” Average berthing delays were 6,7 hours by last Friday (May 7), down from 23 hours on Thursday, 30 hours on Wednesday and 27 hours on Tuesday. A three-hour wind stoppage put paid to operations for three hours on May 3, but the terminal’s daily vessel report revealed berthing delays were close to 50 hours in some instances during the week including the MOL Pride (47 hours), Safmarine Zambezi (42 hours), London Tower (41 hours) and Durban Bridge (37 hours).
