Continuous improvement efforts and the ability to use internal resources to create additional capacity at the Port Elizabeth Car Terminal have enabled the movement of a record 5 700 export units on a single vessel.
This is the highest volume ever moved through the terminal since the port’s last record of 4 500 export units moved on a single vessel in September 2019.
Transnet Port Terminals’ managing executive in the Eastern Cape, Wandisa Vazi, said staff at the terminal had vastly improved their performance in recent weeks to achieve the record.
“The terminal has been working closely with customers and integrated planning has seen us fully resource ourselves to ensure a seamless transaction that placed a lot of emphasis on sorting vehicles during pre-staging before the vessel arrived,” Vazi said.
She added that the operational team at the terminal had consistently achieved a weekly average of 200 units moved per hour over the last three weeks, an 11% improvement from the key performance indicator target of 180 units moved per hour. She said the terminal team intended to build on this momentum as they service Silver Ray, which is destined for Europe.
The car terminal is in the middle of a capacity creation project which will see an additional 3 000 parking bays created at the end of September this year, bringing the overall terminal capacity to 8 000. This capacity will increase the facility’s throughput from 150 000 units to 280 000 units per annum. The additional bays have also enabled the terminal to expand the export preassembly area.
“We have been resourceful in carrying out the project, with our own employees within the facilities department carrying out the work to both manage costs and also ensure on-time completion. There has been increased demand for South African exports since the year began,” she said.
The overall post-Covid-19 automotive sector recovery has been evident across imports and exports at all the country’s terminals. The Port Elizabeth Car Terminal moves Isuzu, VW South Africa, Ford Motor Company, Audi, Porsche and Bentley vehicles as well as Caterpillar machinery through its facility. The terminal employs a three-shift working system to ensure the 24-hour facility remains efficient.
“At the core of our strategy is improving efficiencies to enable our customers to be globally competitive because as they grow, we grow too,” Vazi said.
