Rigid service schedule keeps ships waiting, writes Ed Richardson
PORTNET IN Port Elizabeth has blamed labour legislation for a dramatic fall in productivity.
William Basson, chairman of the association of Ships Agents and Brokers of South Africa, says productivity in the port has dropped from 22 to 15 crane movements an hour.
The port currently only offers marine services between 06:00 and 22:00 on week days and between 06:00 and 11:00 hours, and from 17:00 to 22:00 on weekends, Basson told the Port Elizabeth Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry recently.
Ships arriving outside these times are forced to wait. This situation is unacceptable as it is costly both from a revenue and a time loss point of view, he says.
Basson points out that ships which finish loading at 22:00 are forced to wait until 06:00 the next day before the can leave the port. This is particularly frustrating for ships which also need to stop at the Durban port, where they are forced to wait yet again.
PE port operations manager Nad Govender told FTW that the recent implementation of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act has an impact on every industry, not only Portnet.
Due to the lack of skills in the marine industry, it has had a bigger impact on Portnet.
However, Portnet is
currently busy with training to address the shortage.
The matter will be resolved in a month or so. Then the port will be working as normal again, he says.
Despite the problems, Port Elizabeth harbour has the highest productivity on the South African coast, says Basson.
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