Industry forum wants meeting with Transnet

Goal is to fast-track lasting improvements Alan Peat THE SHIPPING community has called for the establishment of a national joint operating forum to provide a platform for dialogue with the government and parastatal organisations. According to Edward Little, executive director of the SA Association of Freight Forwarders (SAAFF), this follows a recent cross-sectoral meeting in Cape Town convened by the chairman of Safmarine. The subject on the table was: “To discuss and define a joint action plan to address the macro-economic effects of the port crisis with the relevant government entities and urgently achieve much-needed improvements.” The eventual goals, he added, are to: l Engage in a meaningful dialogue with government and parastatal organisations through the creation of a National Joint Operating Forum; l Fast-track measurable, lasting improvements through a public/private partnership; l Ensure lasting, international competitiveness of SA; l Ensure an inclusive approach involving all main stakeholders. “The intention is for a group of industry representatives at senior level to urgently meet with the responsible ministers and the Transnet chairman. “The idea is not to engage in another exercise in finger pointing, but to explain the disastrous effect the situation is having on SA’s competitiveness and to encourage the fast-tracking of lasting improvements.” There was considerable discussion on what these improvements might be, Little told FTW. “The issue of the under capacity of craneage at both Durban and Cape Town container terminals was seen as a priority,” he said. A number of other important improvements for all stakeholders were tabled. “These included planning; communication issues; stack discipline; accuracy of manifests and shipping instructions; yard planning; staging areas; 24-hour shift management; bench marking; sharing of best practice; additional training of operators; service level agreements, and others.” The senior negotiating team is due to meet government during this month.