If you have a port problem, phone FTW and we can swiftly sort it out. At least, that’s the message from this latest hassle that FTW was told about by abnormal load specialist, Carl Webb, MD of Project Logistics Management (PLM). A day of e-mail bickering by Webb with the security section at Maydon Wharf agribulk and multi-purpose terminal about a new security ruling devised and introduced by Vincent Moonsamy of Transnet Port Terminals (TPT), proved to no avail. Webb’s case was that he and his team had Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) ID cards that allowed them into the terminals on the Point, which fell under the same operational management group in the port. But now, at the agribulk terminal, they were also demanding a letter of approval from the ship’s agency. “This is a complete waste of our time and incurs needless costs at a time when all possible should be done to reduce or at the least maintain costs,” Webb told FTW. “I was of the obviously incorrect opinion that Maydon Wharf is a division of the ro-ro and breakbulk terminals, but apparently it operates under completely different rules.” Webb, however, got the appropriate letter, but things then went from bad to worse. His team had the loading of two 42 tonne units to supervise, which required a heavy-lift to the truck by the TPT mobile crane. But, said Webb, the crane operator needed to throw a switch to choose between the “hare and the tortoise”. Two different crane operating modes – hare for lighter container lifts and tortoise for heavy lifts like his units. “But their technician didn’t listen, and instead they ordered the floating crane,” Webb said. “This meant we had to move into a second day – when we were advised that we required a new letter from the vessel’s agents if we were to enter the terminal. This had now become ludicrous.” So ludicrous, as far as Webb was concerned, that he informed the terminal security management that he was pulling out. “Our staff is there to supervise the correct loading of the cargo,” he told TPT. “This assists you, as it is incumbent on TPT to ensure that all vehicles departing their premises are correctly loaded in all respects. “In view of the ridiculous requirement of yours, I am withdrawing my supervisors, and assume the TPT will ensure that the loading is done in the correct manner, and that you will accept responsibility for such.” But Webb’s ire was soothed in an e-mail from Shantal Chetty, security administrator for the agribulk terminal, which said: “If you and the liner stipulated a period the permit is required and based on the need the same will be approved. One does not need to apply for a permit daily if one can prove that he or she will be working for more than a day.” The letter from the agent did indeed cover the second day, so the PLM team finally went ahead and completed the job. But Webb hadn’t given up the ghost yet, and he went on attack at what he told FTW was an “arbitrary and unilateral decision” to introduce the “ludicrous new ruling”. He demanded to know what TPT meant when they said they’d “consulted with the shipping industry” before introducing it. It was explained to him that TPT had talked with “senior representatives from the shipping industry, including Saasoa (the SA Association of Ship Owners and Agents)”. But Webb fired back. “I would appreciate your advising who at the SA Association of Freight Forwarders (Saaff) was consulted in this regard,” he said. “It is all very well consulting the shipping fraternity, who are not your actual clients, but the clearing and forwarding industries and transporters were not consulted. Had we been consulted we would have confirmed that the system is not only impractical but not at all acceptable.” That was where FTW left it. But we decided to contact Zeph Ndlovu, TPT’s operations GM for KwaZulu Natal. We explained the problem that Webb had faced, highlighting the fact that the new ruling contradicted the TNPA ID card, which was intended to give unhindered access to all the port’s breakbulk terminals. Ndlovu was brief, and to the point. “Leave it with me. I’ll sort it all out, and phone Carl Webb.” Howzat for FTW finding an instant answer to problems? The only condition is: Wait and see what transpires. We haven’t any guarantee that our instant solutions always work. INSERT & CAPTION This had become ludicrous. – Carl Webb
