The ports industry is in a state of radical change and uncertainty, which requires flexible and adaptable port planning and design. This is according to Phyllis Difeto, Transnet National Ports Authority’s (TNPA) chief operations officer, who delivered the welcome address at the African Ports Evolution 2015 conference at the Durban ICC last week on behalf of chief executive, Richard Vallihu.
“The impact of the global economic downturn is a daily reminder to ports of the need to change ‘business as usual’,” she said. “Innovative techniques are required to adapt to the pressures of integrating the global supply chain, the need for greater port expansion and the immediate requirement to preserve natural resources,” she added.
“TNPA is on a journey to create a port system with the infrastructure and capacity to promote economic growth and contribute to job creation,” said Difeto.
“We have made solid progress. We have digitised seven of our eight ports through our Integrated Port Management System (IPMS), with the eighth due to go live later this month. We are monitoring port efficiencies and have implemented performance operating standards for all operations – at the terminal, marine, haulier/road and rail interfaces. We are in the process of establishing Joint Operations Centres (JOC) across the port system.
