Open communication tops Durban port users' wish list

Diminished freight volumes have provided some breathing space for the Port of Durban during current upgrades. FTW’s Liesl Venter spoke to some industry role-players for their take on the current state of play. FTW: Delays at the Port of Durban have been a concern in the past. Have they been a challenge since the start of upgrades? Kevin Martin, chairman of the Durban Harbour Carriers’ Association (DHCA): There have not been that many delays in recent weeks. In fact the loss of quay space at container terminals 1 and 2 has not been the train smash that was initially predicted - but that is not because of any smart planning by the port’s terminal operators. Simply put, we haven’t experienced any delays because the volumes are down. Fanie Pretorius, chief operating officer of the South African Shippers’ Council (SASC): There are no current delays due to the low volumes being experienced and possibly improved performance at the Durban Container Terminal (DCT). So far the closure of berths 108 and 109 seems not to have had a serious impact and it should be finished in the next few weeks or so. The weekly statistics from Transnet, however, do not always ref lect what’s happening on the operational front. Carl Webb, managing director of Project Logistics Management (PLM): There are good days and there are bad days. Too often, however, things just don’t run smoothly enough and it remains a problem. Last week a truck arrived at Point at 11am and it only loaded the next day at 2pm. That is a long wait. FTW: What is your biggest gripe/concern/ problem with the Durban port? KM: Efficiency. With all the money being spent and all the work happening we have yet to improve efficiency. The upgrades are a necessary pain that we are just going to have to take on the chin, but ultimately it has to bring about better efficiency. So far it has been very challenging to say the least and the improvements are not being felt. We are lucky we are not pumping volumes at present. FP: The biggest issue facing the port is the single road access to the terminals and Cutler Complex - Bayhead Road. It is simply not fit for purpose; there needs to be serious attention to this access in one way or another. The efficiencies of the operations are not consistent and the frequent stoppages of operations by TNPA are not acceptable. Recently, for example, all operations stopped for TNPA road show meetings. CW: Inefficiency and the lack of communication. FTW: What would you like to see happen at the Port of Durban? KM: The development of the PX Block some 2km from the port. We could be the Rotterdam of the southern hemisphere if we were just willing to think differently. It is all good and well to want to go and dig out a whole new port, but maybe there are other simpler and more affordable solutions available. If we develop the PX Block we can discharge vessels and move the entire shipment to this facility, leaving only exports to be accepted at terminals for stacking. The local imports could be collected via Edwin Swales Drive. Immediately one would be splitting the road traffic in two, reducing the congestion and creating more stacking areas at both facilities. FP: I would like to see the Salisbury Island development go ahead so as to increase capacity by approximately 800k TEUS at Pier 1, linked to the critical improvement to the port. This would either be Transnet’s thinking of a road over the marshalling yard linking to Edwin Swales or EThekwini’s thinking of widening of Bayhead with a link to a widened South Coast Road linking to the N7. It would also be good if Transnet realised that building a new port at a cost of some R120 billion, which the country cannot afford, is not the only way of dealing with the increased containers. They should first address the efficiencies and sort out port property not properly utilised for port activities. CW: Open communication lines where we can be honest with each other. It is really very simple. They have problems which can be addressed, we have problems that can be addressed, and collectively we can do it. INSERT & CAPTION With all the money being spent and all the work happening we have yet to improve efficiency. – Kevin Martin CAPTION The Port of Durban... ‘It could be the Rotterdam of the southern hemisphere.’