FPT reveals R356m expansion plans

Logistics chain critical for exporters under siege RAY SMUTS FRESH PRODUCE Terminals, the country’s largest portside handler of export fruit, has submitted a proposal to parent body Capespan to outlay some R356 million on expansion and improvements over the next five years. “It’s a reflection of our confidence in the fruit export market and our commitment to improving service offerings to the exporter,” says FPT MD Ronnie Kingwill The major component, around R190 million, will go toward moving the entire Cape Town infrastructure over to the container terminal area within the next three to five years, which means new offices and a new cold store, the size of which has yet to be determined. These moves are being planned in response to the Port of Cape Town’s expansion proposals The search is on for an ideal site to build a new R38million cold store in the Kirkwood/Addo area while R11m has been earmarked for improvements to the existing cold store in the port of Cape Town. Further funds have been proposed to improve the facilities in Durban and Maputo FPT’s first container portal crane has just gone into operation in Cape Town. With a lifting capacity of 40 tons (one FEU weighs 22 tons), it is capable of stacking boxes three high. The stacking area has been fitted with 140 reefer plug points. SRS operators like Seatrade and LauritzenCool, who carry high volumes of containers on deck, will have priority over the stacking area - while secondary container business will lie in packing fruit in containers before moving them by low bed trailer to the container terminal. “The portal crane is about giving the exporter an improved choice of what to do with his fruit. He can bring his fruit to the port cold store and then decide on his shipping option later in the cycle,” says Kingwill.