'Durban needs at least three container terminals' - Morwe

SAPO ACHIEVED an operating profit of R50-million at the 13 terminals around the country when CEO Tau Morwe assumed office over two years ago.
"This year a profit of 10 times that figure will be recorded," he told FTW.
"Sapo is working well in all but the Durban Container Terminal. We are making a healthy profit, and what we have to focus on now is getting DCT into a productive and satisfactory working mode before the end of the three-year period we targeted for fulfilment of the entire process of redevelopment.
"Capacity issues remain in Durban. We need additional equipment, more landside room for expansion and stacking capacity. But even with these in hand we still need the workforce to be fully productive.
"We can't blame the shipping lines for the mess. Ships waiting for clearance at DCT should not be held up more than 16 hours. The challenge here is that we must ensure that we remove delays, otherwise it will seriously affect the cargo owner, then the consumer and finally the economy.
"I would like to see at least three container terminals in Durban, offering more capacity with five to 10 berths at each. This will increase competition when privatised and increase productivity. It will also mean more jobs, not less."
In the short term, however, Morwe said that Sapo must invest money until concessionaires are in control. This will involve more gantry cranes - tenders are out for three at present - and the leasing of others, as well as infrastructure building to allow for more berthing capacity.
"The Durban City authorities are being approached to join in these ventures, and we are negotiating with the naval authorities to relocate from their existing island base in the harbour which will give us more landside space.'