The Port of Cape Town has made major inroads in improving logistics efficiency in the Western Cape through a massive infrastructure drive. Launched in 2008, the ongoing investments are starting to pay off as the port has increased capacity and delays are being reduced with congestion seldom an issue. While wind remains one of the biggest contributors to the port having to stop operations, efforts to address this – that include training of crane operators to work equipment in windy conditions – are also under way. According to port manager, Sipho Nzuza, it is important that the port works with the various stakeholders in the province to ensure an efficient logistics chain rather than hamper operations. In this regard at least R306m was spent on upgrades during the 2012/2013 financial year, with another R149m earmarked for the current year. Nzuza said investments were made over 19 projects last year including upgrading and maintaining infrastructure, increasing logistics capacity and improving safety in the port. He said at least R149 million would be invested in the port over the next year for 12 new projects. This includes spending on the completion of the mega container reconfiguration project in July 2013. More than R4 billion has been spent in total on the port over the past five years. Much effort has also gone into systems and improving logistics within the container terminal to ease truck congestion and speed up turnaround times. For Nzuza and his team the upgrades at CTCT are essential, but it is all part of a bigger picture establishing the port as a major hub not just for container traffic but also in the tourism and the oil and gas sectors. CAPTION Sipho Nzuza ... Looking to establish port as a major hub.
