Information shared by Port of Cape Town officials at this morning’s stakeholder session with the freight industry serves to support notions that the port is well on track to claw back lost ground following early-lockdown staff shortages and capacity constraints.
Information shared with Freight News revealed that at the Cape Town Container Terminal (CTCT) five vessels were in roadstead and that there were six vessels waiting to be worked.
That figure is at least half of what it once was, when up to 12 vessels could be seen at anchorage, waiting for much-delayed berthing slots.
At the height of affected functionality at the port, some vessels had to wait for more than a week to dock.
At the moment there are still gangs serving the terminal and the target of 2500 moves per day was exceeded yesterday when at least 3200 moves were recorded.
The 20 operators seconded by the Port of Durban to assist with staffing issues at the Port of Cape Town will be returning home on the 28th as “their mission will be accomplished”, the source said.
The Multi-Purpose Terminal (MPT) too is doing well, with two mobile cranes and six straddle carriers in full operation.
At the time of this morning’s stakeholder session, three vessels had been worked and delays are said to be only two days.