Maputo terminal achieves one-hour turnaround

MAPUTO – The Port of Maputo’s
Car Terminal, built and operated
by Grindrod, has achieved its goal
of a one-hour turnaround from
the offloading of a vehicle from
a vessel to its departure via road
on a car carrier. Now it is just a
matter of increasing volumes to
meet the new facility’s capacity,
FTW learned on an inspection
tour last month.
“The turnaround time is
achieved by Maputo Car Terminal
performing the Customs clearing
function in conjunction with
the OEM/ importer providing
documentation as per the system
requirements,” said Alison Briggs,
Group PR and marketing manager
for Grindrod.
Phase One has been completed,
with 1455 parking spaces
currently available. By phase
three, as the high-security paved
area expands to cover what is
presently weedy rail sidings,
7500 cars will be accommodated,
with 250 000 cars per annum
potentially moving into and
quickly out of the facility. At
that time the terminal will be
manned by a staff complement
of about 200, all Mozambican
nationals.
“We have a 35-year concession
from the port authority. We
started construction in 2007 after
clients had come to us pleading
for an additional car terminal,
but also at a time when many
voices said it couldn’t be done,”
said Pieter Venter, Grindrod’s
general manager for the terminal.
An administration building
– its newness stands out amid
the older structures of the port,
though perhaps not for long as
neighbouring terminal buildings
are slated for replacement –
overlooks an inspection facility
where banks of fluorescent lights
reveal any shipping damage
vehicles might have incurred.
“We have various clients
at present, from individuals to
big clients like importers into
Mozambique, neighbouring
African countries and car
manufacturers in South Africa.
Three shipping lines come here
at the moment and a potential
three more are on the cards,” said
Venter.
One vessel per month comes
from Höegh Autoliners. The
shipping firm’s 5500-vehicle
capacity Höegh Treasure recently
made its inauguration voyage to
the terminal, which will be able
to handle the entirety of the ship’s
capacity by the conclusion of
Phase 2 later this year.
Two European automakers met
the ship with an interest in using
Maputo port to bring in their
vehicles destined for SA.