Ray Smuts
ANYONE IN this fiercely competitive world will tell you there are standards and standards, but only one is good enough for Sandra Sarno - that set by Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC).
Which explains her delight when the company purchased its first container depot in Cape Town a few months back and is now applying its mind to doing things the MSC way.
The former Container Services at 110 Voortrekker Road started operating as MSC Depot on August 1, servicing the needs of the company and other clients. The line had previously made use of a handful of other depots.
While we received service it was not up to our standard as our aim is to deliver the very best to our clients, Sarno told FTW during a fleeting visit to the Mother City recently.
Her view was echoed by MSC's Cape regional director Mike Economou who commented: What we do, we do well. The beauty is that we are now able to offer a one-stop shop.
Sarno said a wholly-owned depot made sense as there were not that many containers available for export, which meant the company was now able to clean and repair boxes on site in addition to offering a reconditioning service from early next year.
MSC currently refurbishes containers in Antwerp and at its Johannesburg and Durban depots - a rate of about ten a day in each of the South African centres - and the aim is to achieve the same output in Cape Town.
Refurbishment will not be exclusive to MSC but to all clients who make use of our depot's facilities.
The 14 000 sq m depot, able to accommodate 1200 TEUs, is currently in the midst of an extensive upgrade which includes workshop equipment, tracing, computerising, 100 additional reefer TEU plugpoints and security fencing. Two new container handling units are due for delivery next March.
Sarno said improved service at the depot had drawn favourable client comment and MSC had been working on inculcating the we are family concept among staff. I can see they are happy to be part of it.
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