Port denies responsibility for fruit industry’s R200m loss

RAY SMUTS A CHARGE that the port of Cape Town cost the fruit industry an estimated R200 million in lost business last year due to various shortcomings, has been vigorously denied by Oscar Borchards, business unit manager at the container terminal. “No ways,” is Borchards’ response to this, and other allegations levelled by Charles Hughes, CEO of Tru-Cape, one of the country’s largest suppliers of apples and pears for the export market. Borchards believes other dynamics need to be probed, such as export fruit quality and shipping schedules, in determining export flows. He also confirms his intent to engage both the Perishable Products Export Control Board (PPECB) and the Container Liner Operators’ Forum on the issue, insisting South African Port Operations (Sapo) has “gone to great lengths” to work closely with exporters and liner operators. Hughes also asserts there has been a shortage of containers in the port and congested berths, resulting in a “considerable number” of vessels bypassing the city. To which Borchards responds any re-routing was not major but due specifically to the elements, strong wind in particular.