Drydock goes all out to attract unscheduled callers

LEONARD NEILL EAST LONDON’S dry-dock is being marketed vigorously by the local National Ports Authority (NPA). The aim is to encourage shipping lines calling at South African ports but omitting East London to utilise the facility. “The lines using it have reported excellent service, and we have had the good fortune to attract a major line like MSC,” says Dirk Botes, NPA manager trade and logistics in East London. MSC does not make a scheduled call at the port but has reported total satisfaction at the handling of two of its vessels in the dry-dock, he said. “The facility has enjoyed a steady run of vessels from lines calling here but now we are going all out to get the others,” says Botes. “It isn’t easy convincing non-users of the port that this is the place to come. Many of them offload cargo in bigger ports like Cape Town and Durban, and simply move their vessels into the local facility for service. “These may, however, not always be available to accept them right away due to heavy forward bookings. That’s where we can offer the service they require and a rapid turn-around time. It means trying all avenues, but we see it as a project with bright prospects.”