Port capacity needs prioritised

Quayside efficiency the focus in Durban FRESH PRODUCE terminals has identified the various capacity needs within the ports, says CE Ronnie Kingwill. The need in Port Elizabeth (capacity 6 000 pallets) is 'urgentÓ and that capacity will be almost doubled at a cost of around R30 million, he said. Durban (capacity 17 500 pallets) is at maximum output but there is probably no need for an additional quayside cooling facility, rather a 'mega-centralisedÓ point to optimise direct loading efficiency at quayside. 'Expenditure of around R60 million in Durban will be largely dependent on the extent to which fruit moves to containers or otherwise. The key question is how the fruit sector is going to respond to the very high tariff increases on containers and if the switch is back to conventional loading we will obviously be in an advantageous position.Ó In Cape Town (capacity 11 000 pallets) the need is not so much for increased capacity but for equipment and improved cold store technology for which R5 million has been earmarked in the year ahead. In Maputo (capacity 2 600 pallets) R9 million has already been spent on upgrading the facility to better handle growing citrus volumes. FPT expects to handle around 975 000 pallets of all export fruit this year for an anticipated turnover of R210 million, a little up on last yearÕs revenue but slightly down on volumes.