First of two new facilities on track

CLIVE EMDON ACCESS LOGISTICS has invested R24m in the development of two 12 000m² container parks at its Durban premises, says GM Carol Coetzee. The first is due to be completed this month and will be used as a full and empty container storage facility, also offering cross-docking and warehousing services including bonded facilities. The company’s warehousing facilities and the new container depot are situated close to Durban harbour on Edwin Swales Drive, where its head office is based. “The park does not have access to rail as yet, but we will be looking at that option in the near future,” says Coetzee. “The new park will complement container and warehousing services offered to clearing agents and shipping lines and will have a massive impact on our efficiency and capacity,” she added. It will have the capacity to handle large consignments of full containers, providing storage and cross-docking for export and import cargo. The facility will be able to store up to 800 TEUs. Access will have a vehicle storage facility available from March 2007 with capacity to store up to 600 vehicles at any time. Coetzee says a second container depot on the same site is due for completion in August 2007. It will have rail options as well as full container handling with warehousing facilities. “This project will start in April/May 2007 and once completed we expect to offer over 100 000 m² of warehousing, container parks and vehicle storage facilities,” she said. Access has secured long-term property leases and has made substantial investments in lease-hold improvements and container handling equipment, she added. This is part of its long-term strategy for growth in container logistics services for local and cross-border business.