An old bugbear for road hauliers specialising in project cargo is in the public glare again because of complaints surrounding private concern restrictions to a bypass way for abnormal loads coming in through the Port of Durban. Earlier this year control over the access way through an area called the PX Shed allowing loads exceeding a certain height from going around the M4 bridge passing over South Coast Road was the centre of controversy. The company on whose property the “PX bypass” is located, Newlyn Group, indicated that it had no obligation to industry at large to keep the area open. But project cargo hauliers like Africa Route Clearance (ARC) differed and it was only through high-level interference from Sapref refinery concerns and executives from the Department of Transport (DoT) at national and provincial level that Newlyn was forced to keep the bypass open. But in a recent development since it was told to desist from blocking off the bypass, a heavy hauler who requested anonymity said Newlyn had made it so difficult to use the bypass that they were making alternative plans anyway. He said that one of his main complaints was the amount of time it took to secure permission, or not, from Newlyn to use the bypass – four weeks. Further delaying matters is the fact that only once consent has been received from Newlyn, can abnormal cargo haulers apply to the DoT for the necessary road permits. Documentation seen by FTW that sets out Newlyn’s bypass requirements stipulates among other things that road hauliers shall commit themselves to taking all necessary precautions to prevent damage to Newlyn’s property. Failing this, transporters are expected to “provide an irrevocable undertaking and guarantee to Newlyn that they shall cover all damages as may be sustained to Newlyn’s property arising out of the movement of such abnormal cargo”. The haulier who raised the matter with FTW said in a recent case it was easier, less costly and much less time consuming for them to do the necessary de-and re-rigging to off-load and reload abnormal cargo that had to get beyond the M4 bridge. Phil Warren, the managing director of ARC which had to seek high-level help to move a reactor through the bypass at the time Newlyn tried to block it off, said it needed to be understood that Newlyn had every right to protect its property, which included extensive warehousing facilities currently under construction. “But it’s still a pain to have to go through so much effort and paper work before you can get a permit from the DoT. And it’s actually ridiculous to think that you need Newlyn’s permission before you can get permission from the DoT.” The anonymous haulier commented: “It beggars belief how something that is so important to logistics can be left for a private company to control. It should be left to the DoT and them alone to let abnormal cargo through or not.” At the time of going to press attempts to talk to Newlyn had failed.
It’s a pain to have to go through so much effort and paper work before you can get a permit from the DoT. – Phil Warren
