Durban to cater for 10 000 cars at a time

ED RICHARDSON DURBAN WILL soon be able to offer automotive exporters and importers between nine and 10 000 slots “at any given time,” according to South African Port Operations (Sapo) spokesperson Beverly Masson. The port is expecting volumes to rise from 290 000 vehicles in the 2005/2006 financial year to 340 000 in 2006/7. “As part of the strategy to create capacity, the Durban Car Terminal has developed an area within the Point area of the port with the same infrastructure as the existing terminal, with an additional 2400 slots. This gives capacity of 9000 – 10 000 slots at any given time and will be operational within the next few months,” she says. The Durban Car Terminal is also finalising a vehicle processing facility to enable direct vehicle distribution. “This will reduce the cost of doing business, add-value to our client base and ensure we remain a world-class facility in service delivery,” she says. Various processes have been improved and automated to enhance business efficiencies and ensure an effective and efficient turnaround of vessels as well as vehicle receipt and dispatch (for both road and rail traffic). Productivity improvements have gone hand-in-hand with greater standards of health and safety. “The Durban Car Terminal remains committed to quality and safety management systems and has achieved NOSCAR status for the third consecutive year. The terminal is also ISO 9001:2000 compliant,” she says.