Macs gears project capacity ahead of demand

Maritime Carrier Shipping’s fleet renewal programme is on track with the last of its newbuildings scheduled to arrive in the second half of next year. Since 2009 the line has been replacing older vessels with newer charter ships – and these will gradually be replaced by the newbuildings as they are delivered. The new vessels are all multi-purpose, but with increased container capacity and more than double the crane capacity. “Project cargo is on the up and South Africa has a lot of investment requirements in terms of electricity and infrastructure,” Macs MD Felix Scheder-Bieschin told FTW. “While project business is cyclical, we believe that in the long run the demand will be there. “For project shippers we will be sailing every 10 days with a 250-ton crane which will be very attractive to the receivers.” The line’s mainline vessels on its European service call Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Durban, Walvis Bay and Richards Bay with the Black Rhino offering a feeder service to Maputo. For Macs it’s clearly a case of creating supply ahead of demand – which is a philosophy that the South African port authorities would do well to emulate. Poor productivity at the Port of Durban not only affects shipping lines’ bottom lines but puts a stranglehold on the country, says Scheder- Bieschin. And while the lines will generally get by, building the additional costs into their freight rates, the impact on the economy is far more serious. “The staff at Transnet Port Terminals and Transnet National Ports Authority work very hard and make the best of the situation – and we get a lot of support from them. But the system itself is flawed when an industry facing high costs and the strong rand is presented with an 18.06% tariff increase by the port authority. While the National Ports Regulator will intervene and there may be a substantial reduction, the damage to perceptions is done. “Decisions are being taken now based on that increase – shippers can’t wait for a process to be concluded before making those decisions.” Historically the port has always lagged behind in terms of capital expenditure – and until it is able to provide the necessary infrastructure ahead of demand, it will continue to impede rather than facilitate South Africa’s global trade aspirations.