Navis glitches – no gain without pain

Frequent crashes of the
Transnet Port Terminals
(TPT) Navis port
management system in
Durban this month have
led to a number of loud
complaints to FTW from
port users about the delays
in container movement they
have been experiencing.
But, according to Kevin
Martin, chairman of the
Durban Harbour Carriers’
Association (DHCA), these
computer glitches should be
expected as TPT has been
attempting a world-first in
adjusting Navis to link all
the major port terminals
around the country.
This at the same time
as adding in the Transnet
Freight Rail (TFR)
operations, and making a
major upgrade for Navis
to accommodate the new
tandem-lift cranes at the
Port of Durban on the May
1 holiday. “Every time they
do a major update, they are
entering new territory,” he
said, “and teething troubles
are to be expected.”
The system worldwide
is a stand-alone operation,
he told FTW. “This
because terminals at
other ports around the
globe are all owned by
different companies, and
are not linked. In SA all
the terminals are owned
by Transnet, and deciding
to link them to a central
server makes sense.”
And Transnet is not just
sitting back and saving
money by applying a bandaid
repair, Martin added.
“They have got all sorts of
experts out from Navis to
try to resolve the problems.
They have done everything
they can. But the system is
not yet 100%, and it gives
trouble every few days.
“It’s a world first. But,
when we come to the end
of it, it will be a great
system.”