Liaison with port authorities addresses challenges

Grindrod Ships Agency recalls its rich history
TERRY HUTSON
GRINDROD SHIPS agency has clearly made its mark in southern Africa, with a range of worldwide ship operators that offer a broad spectrum of services in South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Swaziland, says John Jones, senior director of Grindrod and in charge of ships agency. “We’re proud of a number of achievements,” he told FTW. “For instance, at ISS Voigt the three original directors go back to Ocean Bulk and then Voigt Shipping and then Inchcape, which is when Grindrod entered the frame and bought the company. Those three directors and many of the staff are still with us at ISS-Voigt Shipping. “Then there’s King & Sons – how many companies can boast having PO Box 1 for its address in a leading port city like Durban, or PO Box 1 in another leading port like Richards Bay. And then don’t let’s forget East London – also PO Box 1. That may not seem much except that it’s indicative of how far we go back. Jones himself has had 35 years with the company, and 11 members of senior management in Grindrod’s ships agency business have a cumulative 263 years of service. He said the group was also proud of the role it continued to play in the various associations within the industry. He personally has held office in several roles with both Asabosa and the ASL; Robbie Gardiner of ISS-Voigt served with the Durban branch of Asabosa: Mahomed Kajee of King & Sons on the national board of Asabosa; and among others Alister Donald is the current chairman of the Durban Port Liaison Committee, “one of the most important bodies at the present time,” says Jones. Since the advent of Ivan Clark as managing director and CEO of Grindrod, the group has encouraged its various divisions, including those in ships agency, to operate in the identical successful and familiar fashion as they did before becoming part of the Grindrod Group. In light of this policy the two ships agencies continue to operate in strict competition, with Jones as the sole point of contact, so avoiding any conflict of interest. “The other aspect on which we’re working very hard is that of liaising with the port authorities to overcome the challenges and problems being experienced. We’ll only overcome these if we all work together in finding solutions – for example there’s currently a huge challenge to work closely with Sapo in dealing with the challenges arising from the changes at the various terminals such as Pier One and the new MPT, as well as over at island View. “We don’t forget that the role of ships agency is not just to assist with visiting ships but also in future planning with the port to cater for things like the bigger ships our clients are sending and other changes for the future.”