Terminal and logistics
company FPT Durban has
completed a revamp of its
facility to meet increasing
customer demand –
especially for warehouses
based in the Port of
Durban.
“We have installed four
temperature-sensitive
mobile racking rooms
with a capacity for up
to 5 000 pallets,” Kas
Haricharan, customer
relations manager for
FPT Group in KwaZulu
Natal, told FTW. “These
state-of-the-art rooms are
in addition to 8 000 static
pallet alternatives."
According to her, the
new warehouse allows for
significantly increased
FMCG, confectionery,
pharmaceuticals and
general cargo compliant
storage capacity within the
port of Durban precinct.
“The entire facility is
under 24-hour closed
circuit television (CCTV)
surveillance, making the
option of white goods
storage very feasible. In
addition it is a registered
food grade facility,” said
Haricharan.
She pointed out that
the revamp also included
the installation of 11 fixed
container loading bays
to assist with on-site
container packing and
unpacking, in addition
to the installation of two
weighbridges to help
customers comply with
the new International
Maritime Organisation
(IMO) Safety of Life at Sea
(Solas) verified gross mass
(VGM) regulation.
“FPT Durban is equipped
with two 45-tonne reach
stackers for containers or
heavy lifts,” Haricharan
said, pointing out that
project cargo, heavy duty
machinery and other
breakbulk products such
as steel and locomotives
provided opportunities for
growth for the company
as it offered the kind
of specialised handling
services needed for these
products.
“FPT Durban has two
active rail sidings that
are suitable for handling
locomotives for import or
export, direct onto/from
the rail. The rail lines are
also used for cargo into and
out of the facility,” she said.
Haricharan added that
FPT was also able to berth
vessels on schedule, which
the shipping lines preferred
as they could maintain their
shipping schedules. She
said that this reliability also
meant that the shipping
lines did not have to incur
additional costs associated
with vessels waiting outside
the port.
FPT Durban is part of a
larger group of companies
with active terminals in
Port Elizabeth and Cape
Town in South Africa and
a cargo facility in Maputo,
Mozambique.
CAPTION
FPT Durban’s berths at the port of Durban.
Logistics major completes upgrades to its Durban terminal
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