Perishable shippers appeal for preference at congested container terminals

As more and more fruit moves in containers rather than breakbulk, the industry is now having to find solutions to South Africa’s massive container congestion problems. Mitchell Brooke, logistics development manager of the Citrus Growers’ Association of South Africa (CGA), says there has been a steady migration from breakbulk to containers with some 80% of fruit now exported in reefers. “The difference is that with the breakbulk the vessels berth at private berths while the containers are handled by Transnet Port Terminals at the container berths where efficiency is low.” He said with perishable product having to move fast, the congestion and service levels at container terminals had at times impacted the industry negatively. “We are talking to Transnet in an effort to get them to understand the importance of fruit not being delayed and what the impact is when it does not arrive at market on time,” said Brooke. “We are relying quite heavily on Transnet to increase its focus on the perishable industry to bring its service up to standard and minimise the detrimental effect on the cold chain.” Brooke said while most of South Africa’s ports handled fruit exports, more problems were being experienced in Durban than anywhere else – but continued talks with Transnet to increase capacity were under way. “The message to them is to give more attention to containers carrying perishable goods at the high-volume container berths in order to facilitate an effective supply chain.” INSERT: ‘Relying on Transnet to increase its focus on the perishable industry to bring its service up to standard.’ CAPTION: More problems being experienced in Durban than anywhere else.