Several factors were considered in the choice of Cato Ridge as the location of the new Cato Ridge Intermodal Logistics Hub, according to CEO of the Cato Ridge Consortium, Warwick Lord. Its relatively flat topography and the convergence of three transport modes – the N3, the Natcor line and the multi-product pipeline and old Durban to Johannesburg Pipeline – were key criteria, he added. At the proof of concept stage of the development there were no ancillary services available such as a lay down area for containers which meant trucks and wagons had to be at the premises at the same time to be racked and stacked and waiting, which could lead to delays. He said the hub could currently accommodate 22 wagons. “Proof of concept is complete and what we are doing now is proof of financial viability by spending capital to provide the lay down areas for containers so that we can have a more efficient operation where a truck can deliver or collect the container at any stage independent of the rail arrival.” Lord said the hub would implement state-of-the-art technology including drones to monitor movement in the port and container stacks. “When you are running a logistics system data is key, to know when boxes are arriving and leaving, and this information can be used to plan efficiently. We are partnering with Sanral and will tie into their data set on the N3 so we can plan when trucks arrive to collect or deliver, where to place boxes appropriately, either at the bottom or the top of the stack, depending on when they will arrive,” Lord said. “We will be able to track the box to see where bottlenecks are in the system and we will introduce drones into our container yard. The drones will fly on a predefined grid every three to four hours to check where a box has been ascribed and if it is still there two hours later. It’s part of our checks and balances,” he said. Firms that have used the shuttle system so far include Merlog which moves reefer containers, Value Logistics which has a large warehouse in Cato Ridge, as well as Mr Price and the relatively new Pepkor distribution centre in Hammarsdale. Lord said a big issue was the excess of empty containers in the country due to high imports and low exports, a gap that the firm, African Port Logistics and Infrastructure (APLI), had identified in the market. Proof of concept is now complete and we are doing proof of financial viability. – Warwick Lord
