Major delays as Navis fails

A host of problems
blighting the new Navis port
management system, its
operators, and other handling
personnel at the Pier 2
container terminal (DCT)
three weeks ago turned the
container port of Durban into
a disaster zone for 10 days.
And the problem,
although “a little better”,
was still prevalent last week,
according to Paul Rayner,
MD of short-haul container
truckers, DTB Cartage.
“It’s still not entirely
satisfactory, and there are
still lengthy delays,” he told
FTW.
He also noted that the
bad situation had been
made worse by the public
holidays, where – although
the terminal works 24/7
– industry and container
depots closed down. Rayner
suggested that measures
taken this week would better
judge whether the worst of
the problem was over.
But the height of the
computer failure was an
exceptionally bad time for the
container transport sector in
all its forms.
Ships, trucks and trains
suffered from lengthy
delays, and the whole freight
industry lost millions as
import and export containers
got jammed up at the
terminal.
From the truckers’ point
of view, Kevin Martin,
MD of Freightliner and
current chairman of the
Durban Harbour Carriers’
Association, told FTW at the
time: “The first two weeks
of the Navis system, small
improvements were seen.
Last week (week three) was
a huge step backwards with
delays of up to 24 hours to
turn one truck around, with
12 to18 hours being the norm.
“These extended delays
could not be put down purely
to Navis, but rather point to a staff backlash of some sort.
As I have been led to believe
that staff bonuses are based on
performance levels, if Navis
is not allowing the staff to
perform – and thus affecting
their pockets – there may be
some truth in the rumours, so
we will just have to wait and
see what develops.”
In his letter to Saaff
members, Martin pointed out
that the spectacle of disaster
was not unforeseen.
“In general, when a changeover
of this magnitude takes
place – anywhere in the
world – even with the best of
planning and trial tests, under
full operational conditions,
the wheels tend to come off.
The change to Navis is not
the exception to the rule –
unfortunately.
“....it is “normal” for a
lead time of between eight
to twelve weeks before the
system ‘beds in’ and some
resemblance of normality
returns.”
He did, however,
describe the situation as
“unacceptable”.
Rayner was simple in his
description of the situation.
“Disaster,” he said.
“Truck queues have never
been worse in the whole
history of containerisation in
Durban. Delays going into
days, not hours.
“At the A-check, for
example, it’s a complete
shambles. On a 24-hour basis,
the trucks were being based
in 25 lines for one terminal
– and probably about 10-12
trucks in each line. That’s
every day, 24 hours a day.”
Ships were also delayed,
with some vessels being
diverted to other ports –
which, in turn, also placed
a strain on planning, as
containers then had to be
relocated between centres
using the problematic rail
standard operating procedures
(SOP).
“Big problems,” said Glen
Delve, marketing director of
shipping line, MSC.
“We’re having about a sixday
berthing delay, and not
getting export boxes into the
stacks on time. It’s also a huge
problem on the import side, as
boxes are not getting cleared.