Internet could speed container throughput at DCT

Additional storage charges don't address the real issues
Alan Peat
THERE ARE still signs of dissatisfaction in Durban’s container freight transport industry following SA Port Operations (Sapo) adjusting the previous free storage period at the Durban container terminal (DCT) and introducing the penalty charges on container storage after the three free days now allowed. All very well, according to Raymond Ramjiawan of Durban-based RJ Shipping, where Sapo’s primary concern is the quick turnaround of the ships. “But,” he told FTW, “raising the storage charges is a casual way for Sapo to make additional revenue - whereas there are several other factors that prevent containers from being uplifted within the free period.” There are three problem areas, Ramjiawan added, each of which needs positive counter-action from the appropriate port authorities. “Wharfage orders (WOs) are taking extremely long to be processed through the National Ports Authority (NPA),” he said. “We feel NPA needs to reduce this to two hours. He also points to the ongoing problem of truck queues. “Transporters are facing lengthy delays outside the terminal, waiting in long queues for several hours to collect containers, hampering the turnaround of trucks.” Taking into account the DCT operating 24/7, Ramjiawan concluded that certain actions needed to be taken. “The NPA should drastically reduce the time taken for processing WOs,” he said, “and they should consider opening their offices on a Saturday to uplift and process WOs. “Shipping lines should also open their offices on a Saturday in order to process the release of containers. They should have arrangements in place for transporters to pay any storage on containers so they can uplift them over weekends.” These comments meet with no argument from the Durban harbour carriers section of the SA Association of Freight Forwarders (Saaff), according to Durban-based vice-chairman, Kevin Martin. “These suggestions are good and we are covering all his points in our on-going discussions with the port authorities.” The NPA/Sapo processing system is absolutely cumbersome and impractical nowadays, Martin added, and streamlining the whole procedure is a crux of the carriers’ agenda in its meetings with harbour management. “Go internet” is the truckers' advice. “Where you process your harbour dues (wharfage fees) to the NPA, for example, you should also be able to process the necessary container transport order (CTO),” said Martin. “In these days of the internet, why do you still have to hand in an original CTO at each terminal, and why do each of the terminals refuse to accept documentation processed for one of the others?”