The raging fire that burnt with tinder-box intensity on Devil’s Peak mountain last week had no effect on the nearby Cape Town Container Terminal where it was business as usual. With 17 vessels arriving the week to March 22 and a further 19 due up to March 29, terminal personnel were hoping the dreaded southeaster would be kind, for once, and blow somewhere else instead. Mike Powles, terminal planning manager, says 19 ships makes for a busy schedule, though not excessive, as call and vessel sizes continue to increase. What is more, he says, it is not unusual for container shipping lines to request one of its vessels to work before another, usually linked to meeting schedules.
