Faster discharge reduces Beira demurrage costs

Greater efficiencies
in the port of Beira
are helping to reduce
the overall cost
of using the
Beira corridor,
according
to Jonathan
Middleton,
Beira Logistics
Terminals
(BLT) manager.
A new record for BLT is the
discharge of 27 500 tons of
fertiliser in eight days. “In one
24-hour period we moved five
thousand tons,” he says.
Middleton attributes
the continually
improving port
efficiencies to better
co-operation between
agents and the port authority,
investment in the road
infrastructure, and improved
systems at the BLT warehouse
outside the port.
Overall costs are reduced
because
shippers do
not have to pay
high demurrage
charges and the
vessel owners
have a quicker
turnaround.
“It is exciting to start seeing
everything working properly to
the advantage of the users of the
corridor,” he says.
The decision by the port
operator Cornelder de
Mozambique to support
investment in
warehouses
outside the port
is also paying
off.
“Having
facilities
outside the port
gives the cargo
owners more
f lexibility and
control,” he
says.
BLT is able
to unload up
to 1000mt/40
TEUs of bulk containerised
commodities a day into its
25 000 sqm of warehousing
outside the port.
Two bagging machines on site
are each capable of handling
1 500 tons every 24 hours.
Stuffing and destuffing of
containers
is also done
on the secure
site, which is
designed to
handle high
value as well as
general goods.
With upgrades
to the yard area
of the warehouse
complex
completed, the
55 000-sqm
facility has space
for about 400
full containers at any time.
The facility can also cater for
out-of-gauge goods.
An empty container storage
area is designed for 80 TEUs.
INSERT 
5 000t The volume of fertiliser
discharged in 24 hours
INSERT & CAPTION
The decision by the port
operator Cornelder de
Mozambique to support
investment in warehouses
outside the port is paying
off.
– Jonathan Middleton