Pressure is being taken off the port of Beira by the opening of a dry terminal on the EN 6 access road from the hinterland. All road traffic to and from Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as the Mozambican hinterland, use the EN 6, which is the only access into Beira by land. Independent Beira Logistics Terminal and Services (IBLT&S) is undergoing licensing as a fully bonded facility with its own customs offices, according to Christian Roeder, managing director of Beira Logistics Terminals (BLT) and IBLT&S. BLT, which is part of the J&J group of companies, has constructed close to 25000 sqm of newly built warehouses and a further 50000 sqm of logistics area in Beira over the past two years. The facility is designed to accommodate stacks of empty containers up to seven high, and five of full boxes. It can handle three thousand full 20-foot containers, and four thousand empties at a time, and can operate round the clock. Containers will be transported in-bond out of the port into the new facility, where they will be cleared and processed. Services will include destuffing and repacking. Exports such as tobacco, cotton and mineral products will be packed and processed in the terminal. They will be protected by the high security measures in place, including its own security system, patrols, access control at the gate and CCTV coverage. A weighbridge is available to weigh trucks going in and out of the facility as part of the controls for clients that request the service. Shippers will benefit from saving demurrage in the port and “less bureaucracy,” he says. Container movements are controlled through the same system that was developed for the BLT warehouses. This system allows for the prebooking of containers, and provides a daily update to agents, shipping companies, cargo owners, the port of Beira and government agencies such as customs. A central office building has space for the staff of agents and shipping lines working in Beira. All the necessary power and data connections are available in the airconditioned facilities. Staff will also be able to make use of a canteen in the terminal. There is a toilet block for drivers. INSERT & CAPTION Shippers will benefit from saving demurrage in the port and less bureaucracy. – Christian Roeder
