The mandatory container
appointment system (MCAS)
roll-out at the Durban
Container Terminal – set
to go live on April 1 or June
1 (depending on whom you
talk to) – has been replaced
by a non-mandatory truck
appointment system (TAS).
The latter is now set for a
pilot project go-live on August
1, followed by implementation
on November 1 this year.
Jabulani Dube, Transnet
Port Terminals (TPT) general
manager: KwaZulu Natal
operations, explained that the
new system and new roll-out
dates followed “engagement
with the transport and
maritime industry”.
He gave the initial go-live
date for the (MCAS) as June
1. However, FTW reported
TPT regional manager,
Thula Dlamini, as saying
at a stakeholder meeting in
February that it would be April
1. This was confirmed to FTW
last week by local transporter
and member of the Durban
Harbour Carriers’ Association,
Kevin Martin.
He said the initial MCAS
system, “widely announced
with great fanfare to the
media”, has been planned
without any consultation
with port users. According
to Martin, a working
group of TPT and industry
representatives was then
formed to ensure consensus
on the targets and operations
around the new TAS.
“The initial system was a
complete waste of time and
didn’t take the needs of the
industry into account at all.
It’s like they couldn’t see the
wood for the trees,” he said,
adding that it was illegal
to implement a mandatory
booking system.
“They wanted to penalise
transporters for no-shows but
how can they when they don’t
have sufficient equipment to
discharge cargo? Sure, charge
me R1 000 for not meeting my
slot but I’ll charge you R1 000
for keeping me waiting,”
Martin commented.
He added that the
establishment of a working
group had been welcomed
and that discussions were
ongoing. “There now seems
to be an understanding that
there won’t be a go-live until
consensus has been reached.”
Martin said transporters at
the port expected a maximum
turnaround time of six
hours from the time a truck
entered the port and exited it.
According to him, the current
average truck turnaround
time is between 10 to 12 hours.
“About six months ago, it was
18 to 36 hours,” he said.
Dube – who told FTW in an
e-mailed reply that “ongoing
engagement with stakeholders
was key to ensure the smooth
roll-out of the system” – said the
TAS would improve operational
performance at Durban
Container Terminal (DCT).
“We intend to end up
with an 80% booked versus
20% unbooked split as we’ve
done the necessary research
and seen that 100% booked
appointments will put us under
extreme pressure and leave us
in a permanent state of conflict
with the industry,” he pointed
out.
Initially however, the overall
number of trucks received at
DCT would be split so that
40% of the volume would be
allocated to reefers booked via
the truck appointment system,
with the remaining 60% being
assigned to unbooked reefers,
explained Dube.
He said the TAS system
would result in a more
structured operation, improved
utilisation of terminal
resources, and fluidity of
the staging area. “It will also
improve safety and stop bribery,
reduce congestion in Bayhead
road and save costs for all
parties,” said Dube.
INSERT: There now seems to
be an understanding
that there won’t
be a go-live until
consensus has been
reached.
– Kevin Martin
