Borchards stresses
investment
imperative
Ray Smuts
CAPE TOWN'S multi-purpose terminal has implemented a brace of actions to address customer complaints regarding equipment and productivity.
Business unit manager Oscar Borchards spelt out the port's upgrade measures:
l Questionable quayside supervision has been improved in respect of a 16-hour day but available for 24 hours upon request
l Certain problems related to poor vessel and container planning have been resolved
l Two new 45-ton reach stackers capable of stacking 2-3 high are on order at a combined cost of R7 million, due for delivery in December
l Existing stackers are not in good condition and will be removed at intervals for upgrading which will add a further three years to their lifespan
l The first (R3 million) phase of a ground surfacing programme is underway at the E/F fruit handling berths
l The shell of the E-berth fruit holding store is being upgraded at a cost of R6 million
l Utilisation of the heavy mobile crane has doubled
Borchards asserts that proper surfacing is vital in view of the weight of straddle carriers and reach stackers. The "first prize", providing a life expectancy of 20 years, is to concrete surface the entire area at a cost of up to R20 million but he hastens to add such capital expenditure has not yet been requested.
Borchards believes that were concessioning to come to Cape Town the MPT would take a backseat to the container terminal in terms of priority.
"Concessioning or not, it is still important that we invest and improve service in the interest of the customer as our strategic view is to sustain and grow business and be a business partner of choice."
South African Port Operations is currently exploring the viability of a 1 000-pallet cold store facility at E-berth which would be a first for the MPT. This would, in effect, make it a competitor to Capespan subsidiary Fresh Produce Terminals. (Cost could be up to R20 million).
Also part of the current thinking process aimed at speeding up productivity is transferring excess equipment in the form of four hauliers and three trailers from freightdynamics.
Turnover at the MPT is expected to increase from about R105 million in 2001 to R120 million this year. Borchards says commodities worth watching are cement exports which will increase nearly threefold to 200 000 bags (to West African destinations) and fruit which will rise from 100 000 pallets last year to between 105 000 and 110 000 pallets this year.
