New container depot on the planning boards

Development and business
growth remain key strategies
for Cypress Transport, which
is in the process of securing land
for the development of a brand new
container depot.
According to Durban branch
manager Marlon Govender, the new
depot, which will be able to store a
maximum of 3000 TEUs, will
be situated in a prime location near
the port.
“The Port of Durban remains one
of the most important ports within
South Africa and is currently the
busiest in the southern hemisphere.
This port is the gateway to a number
of landlocked destinations and
transhipment ports throughout sub-
Saharan Africa,” said Govender.
“Add to that the fact that the Durban
weather is an important factor in
comparison to other ports that are
often affected by bad weather and the
better infrastructure, it is important
to have a facility near
the port.”
Govender says while traffic
congestion remains a challenge
with delays of anything from five
to 20 hours, the Durban Container
Terminal has improved its service
levels to the shipping lines as the
vessels have a much quicker turn
around time.
“KZN has a well developed
infrastructure and an excellent rail
system – there is much opportunity
for business.”
Cypress Transport, founded in
2000 by Dorothy Jenkin with only
a single shipping client, has
continued to grow from strength to
strength. “We now have a network
of branches in Durban, Johannesburg
and Cape Town,” said Govender.
“In Durban we also recently
moved premises from the Bayhead
area to Churchill road in Morningside
where we purchased a building.
“This was to suit our client base,
an important consideration in an era
where client retention has become of
great importance.”