Lower volumes rather than improved productivity relieve DCT congestion

ALAN PEAT
THERE HAS been an improvement in the delays experienced by road hauliers at the Durban container terminal (DCT), according to Malcolm Sodalay of Sammor Investments, and chairman of the Durban harbour carriers section of the SA Association of Freight Forwarders (SAAFF).
However, he told FTW, it was no miracle in the DCT’s productivity or vehicle flow management.
“The improvement, in our opinion, comes from the low demands in container movement that are being experienced.
“We believe that it is possible that we will experience delays during the peak times - and if-and-when the volumes increase.”
Sodalay also suggested that people shouldn’t read too much into the SA Port Operations (Sapo) figures on the terminal’s activities.
“The times quoted by DCT,” he said, “do not reflect the queuing times of the vehicles outside the gates - but rather the time of the vehicle entering the terminal gates and leaving the terminal gates.
“Therefore the times quoted are merely a truck turnaround time inside the terminal, and not the possibly rather more lengthy delays as vehicles stand in a traffic jam on the access road.”
There are delays experienced at DCT, Sodalay added, especially when volumes are high and when large vessels are being serviced – and equipment availability is a problem.
But,” he said, “these issues are being addressed. New equipment is being introduced and refurbishment of current equipment is being carried out.”
The third lane on the access road, meantime, has begun to prove its worth.
Said Sodalay: “The implementation of the third lane has assisted tremendously with traffic flow in the Langeberg and Bayhead roads and is working well.
“This, however, is not a long-term solution. It never was, and new ideas are currently being explored.”