Major improvement in CT wind delays

Cape Town Container Terminal (CTCT) has stepped up to the plate to address wind delays that paralysed the port in late 2012 and early 2013. According to Brenda Magqwaka, CTCT manager, operations now continue at wind speeds of up to 90km per hour. “This terminal only stops operations when the wind blows more than 90km per hour as none of our equipment can then function. The risk is then too high; other than that it is business as usual,” she told FTW. This is a vastly different picture from last year when the terminal was wind bound for days on end – so much so that exporters decided to charter conventional reefer vessels for this season as they were not willing to chance a windbound port again. “We have increased the wind speed limit at which we operate the rubber tyre gantries from 60km per hour to around 82km per hour,” said Magqwaka. Cape Town is one of the only ports where the RTGs operate in such heavy winds, she said, as most of the other ports ceased operations between 60 and 70km per hour. “We have been working very closely with the crane operators and a lot of time and effort has gone into convincing people to continue working in such high wind speeds. We have also invested in more training for the operators.” Magqwaka said at the same time Transnet Port Terminals had to backtrack on its decision to only operate RTGs. “We have re-introduced straddle carriers to the terminal and that means we can continue operations even when the RTGs cease operations.” She said the straddle carriers brought in from the Port of Durban earlier this year allowed the terminal to continue operations in very high winds. “It may not be optimal as we have to dump stack and then go back when the wind has died down to organise, but the terminal continues to operate and that is what it is ultimately all about. Customers are happy and they realise that we are doing everything in our power to keep this terminal functioning despite the wind.” Terry Gale, chairman of the Exporters' Club Western Cape, said the improvement at the terminal was obvious to all. “They have made massive inroads and we have not seen the delays of the last season at all. Cargo is moving even though the wind is blowing and the number of days that the port has been wind-bound have been few and far between.” INSERT & CAPTION We have increased operations on the rubber tyre gantries from 60km per hour to around 82km per hour. – Brenda Magwaka