‘Porous’ Maydon Wharf poses security problems September strikes highlight the issue

TERRY HUTSON
DURBAN WAS one of the first ports worldwide to announce its intention to become fully compliant with new international shipping security functions and in November 2003 became one of the first to launch a Container Security Initiative (CSI) with the United States.
Among other things this requires the US to station inspectors to work alongside their South African counterparts in the port profiling and inspecting where necessary containers destined for the United States.
But it isn’t all plain sailing and Durban’s Maydon Wharf is posing some headaches for the National Ports Authority and for the leaseholders along this lengthy piece of waterfront.
The problem lies with the numerous entrances onto Maydon Wharf, both for road, rail and pedestrian traffic. Although boom gates have gone up at all road entrances, large gaps remain at almost every rail connection, through which pedestrians can wander at will.
The problem of controlling access was highlighted during the September 2004 strikes when casual dockworkers agitated over a two week period to keep workers away. Although court interdicts were eventually seen to take effect, it was not before several successful incursions into the Wharf area had taken place.
Elsewhere the conversion of the port into an area secure and compliant with the international code is seen to be a success, with steel palisade fencing circling the 24 or so kilometres of perimeter and guards checking most vehicles approaching the numerous entrances.