Flawless transhipment manoeuvre speeds helicopters to Antarctica

JOY ORLEK SKELETON PORT staff, challenging weather and an impatient vessel ready to depart for the Antarctic set the unlikely scene for a flawless transhipment manoeuvre in Cape Town over the festive season that saw two helicopters cleared, discharged and delivered within 48 hours of berthing. The vessel in question was the Paardeberg which was in port to collect supplies and stores before departing for the Antarctic where she is chartered by the Indian government for scientific purposes. “Her departure had already been delayed and she was awaiting the arrival of two helicopters from Germany before steaming south,” ZA Trans operations manager Gunnar Engbers told FTW. “The vessel berthed just as everything went onto skeleton staff or closed down for the Xmas weekend,” said Engbers. “In addition the port had become wind-bound just as matters were reaching a critical point.” “But despite this we were able to clear, discharge and deliver the oversize, delicate and very valuable helicopters to the Paardeberg within 48 hours of the Safmarine Nomazwe berthing at the container terminal,” import operations manager Gregg Eastman told FTW. With the acquisition of TRT Shipping last July, ZA Trans has bolstered its service portfolio in Cape Town. “From the handling of the key-side operations and looking after the vessel’s needs to bunkering, air and seafreight forwarding and the complicated customs formalities, ZA Trans is perfectly equipped to handle all facets of the logistics chain, particularly in challenging situations like the Paardeberg,” said CEO Warren Erfmann.