Durban cuts floating crane availability

Terry Hutson
THE CRANE that nobody wants! The Marine Service department at the port of Durban has reduced the availability for the port floating crane from two shifts daily to one since February 20.
According to Sobantu Tilayi, the port marine manager, the utilisation of the floating crane has dropped from 50% in 1999 to 30% at present, which he says has made it uneconomical to continue providing two shifts a day between 06:00 and 22:00.
In future, unless prior arrangements are made with Marine Services, the 25-year old floating crane will only be available between the hours of 06:00 and 14:30, with an option of 06:00 until 18:00 by arrangement.
In addition cargo handling (stevedoring) on the floating crane will have to be provided by the client in future.