New berthing system kicks in at CT

Guaranteed slots avoid delays Ray Smuts A NEW pilot berthing slot project kicked in at the Cape Town container terminal last week designed to offer shipping lines guaranteed slots. Following the introduction of the system in Durban about two months ago and in Port Elizabeth on September 1, it will run for an initial month focused on Berth 603, but terminal manager Ian Bouwer is confident it could be extended beyond that time frame. "For ships calling at South African ports their berthing place will be guaranteed so you would not have a situation where a ship has to wait outside a port for 100 hours or whatever." It is clear however that the success of the project depends on strict adherence to ETAs as delays could throw the whole system out of kilter. Says Bouwer: "As none of the participating lines is South African-based, decisions on slots will have to be made at central control, so talking across the table has to be quite earnest." He assures "all sorts of rules" are in place in the event of delays and that should a problem arise at Berth 603, neighbouring 604 will in all likelihood be used. The Cape Town container terminal depends on eight shipping lines for 90% of its volumes and all have been requested to continue furnishing daily ETA and volume updates on a regular basis. Other requirements include notification of substantial changes in average volumes as soon as they become known, no exceptions to all stowage instructions submitted within six hours of stack closing, advice of late arrival stowage instructions at least 12 hours before planned completion of original loading, and timely ICLs. Bouwer makes clear some smaller vessels may have to be planned in between slot vessels to avoid their arrival/departure interfering with the berthing of slot vessels. Should an on-time slot vessel not complete its time frame the terminal will try to accommodate the next slot vessel elsewhere in the terminal but this may not always be possible. In the event of the second slot vessel having to be accommodated elsewhere the shifting costs will be paid by the terminal. A late slot vessel will take up its slot and continue to work until such time as the slot is required, after which it will have to vacate the berth to be accommodated again once the second vessel has completed work. In this case the shipping line will be responsible for shifting costs. The terminal will keep account of each slot vessel during the pilot period at the end of which each participating line will be consulted on problems encountered. "Based on results a decision will be taken whether or not to carry on with the slot concept." With delays of less than 12 hours currently being experienced, Bouwer says: "I am very happy with the way this terminal has coped and if we experience the same growth as in the past we will be able to manage. By handling more than 50 000 containers we have been through the worst." MSC Cape regional director Mike Economou says of the slot project: "It's a positive start and though the port is a lot more fluid than it has been, the test will come with the fruit season next March and April."