Durban gears up for all-time container high

Record August projected to follow record July Terry Hutson COMING HOT on the heels of the record number of containers ever handled in a single month - 113 000 TEUs in July (see page 12) - the Durban container terminal (DCT) is now having to gear itself for further expected pressures. According to figures obtained from the shipping lines, DCT can expect to handle 26 500 TEUs this week (6 - 12 August) and in excess of 20 000 the following (13 - 19 August). ThatÕs equal to 117 400 TEUs in August if the first week is converted to a monthly statistic. Portnet says it is in the final stage of awarding the contract to supply an initial 35 straddle carriers for DCT but delivery of these can be expected only during the first quarter of 2002. Earlier reports suggested these would be available by October. "We are making every effort to ensure that the maximum number of cranes and straddle carriers will be made available at all times," said Jim Binnie of SA Port Operations. According to Binnie, the high projected volumes will place an exceptionally heavy demand on terminal operational equipment and stacking space. He says it will not be possible to discharge ships completely before commencing with the loading of export containers. "We will be combining discharging and loading operations when working ships to minimise the number of containers actually in stack at any point in time. This type of operation requires all containers for export to be available in the vessel stack when the stack closes." Binnie advises that it will therefore not be possible for the terminal to accept late arrival containers after the ship stack has closed. He appealed for the co-operation of all cargo owners and their agents to ensure that their transport contractors were made aware of this fact.