Launch of new MSC depot revs up Eastern Cape capacity

ED RICHARDSON SEPTEMBER 14 saw the official launch of the MSC Container Depot at the Nelson Mandela Bay Logistics Park (NMBLP). Located in the heart of the Uitenhage and Despatch automotive services area adjacent to Volkswagen South Africa, the depot also serves General Motors and the Ford RoCam engine plant. MSC Logistics director, Georgi Georgiev, said MSC’s investment in the Metro was designed to position the company strategically with the NMBLP as a point of growth within the industry. Construction and development of the depot took eight months. It has been operational for two months and already moves over 200 containers a day. To ensure uninterrupted operation the depot runs twenty-four hours a day, with 15 trucks, 35 trailers and 60 dedicated employees. Delivery of containers from the depot to the neighbouring VWSA plant is accomplished within 30 minutes. MSC has leased 60 000m2 of land from the NMBLP. An area of 40 000m2 has been developed, with a potential 20 000m2 of land available for expansion. According to Georgiev, this will increase the capacity of the depot by 50%. The facility currently has a holding capacity for 2000 full containers and 3000 empties. It includes a maintenance facility and bonded area.